April 1, 2006

ATLANTA, Ga. - The Tulane women's outdoor track and field team had one of its top performances of the season on Saturday, posting six NCAA Regional qualifying marks at the Yellow Jacket Invitational at the George C. Griffin Track on the campus of Georgia Tech. Freshman Valencia Wilson registered the first regional qualifying mark of her career with a personal record time in the 400-meter dash.

Junior Gloria Asumnu and senior Jelena Jurlina continued their dominant seasons with two more regional marks each. Asumnu recorded a time of 11.54 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 23.65 seconds in the 200 meters. Both times earned her third place in those events. Jurlina, meanwhile, had season-best throws in the both the discus and the javelin. The senior took second place in both events, posting a mark of 169 feet, six inches in the discus and 159 feet even in the javelin. Asumnu now has three qualifying marks in both the 100 and the 200 while Jurlina has four in both of her events.

The Wave's other regional qualifier was senior Helmi Leppanen who registered a season-best distance in the shot put at 48 feet, one and a quarter inches to take second place. It was her third regional mark in that event this season.

Wilson, meanwhile, was clocked at 53.93 seconds in the 400-meter dash to win the event. Her time is the fastest by a Wave runner since 2001 and it is the fifth-fastest in school history.

Other personal records were turned in by freshman Whitney Hampton (2:15.06 in the 800), freshman vanessa Kienast (58.34 in the 400) and sophomore Aubrey Phillips (18:45.43 in the 5,000). Senior Lisa Green had a season-best time of 4:46.15 in the 1,500-meter run.

Finally, the Green Wave's mile relay team posted its top time of the season. Junior Kyra Lobbins, freshman Shaina Pelham, sophomore Shanon Beelendorf and Wilson teamed up to record a time of 3:42.60 to earn third-place in the event.

Tulane returns to action on Saturday at the Ole Miss Invitational in Oxford, Miss.

Tulane Results:

Gloria Asumnu
100 Meters: 11.54 (3rd place) - NCAA Regional
200 Meters: 23.65 (3rd place) - NCAA Regional

Lisa Green
1500 Meters: 4:46.15 (6th place) - season-best

Whitney Hampton
800 Meters: 2:15.06 (5th place) - P.R.

Jelena Jurlina
Discus: 51.67m, 169-06 (2nd place) - NCAA Regional - season-best
Javelin: 48.46m, 159-00 (2nd place) - NCAA Regional - season-best

vanessa Kienast
400 Meters: 58.34 (10th place) - P.R.

Helmi Leppanen
Shot Put: 14.66m, 48-01.25 (2nd place) - NCAA Regional - season-best
Javelin: 39.26m, 128-10 (3rd place)

Kyra Lobbins
200 Meters: 25.54 (23rd place)

Shaina Pelham
200 Meters: 25.45 (21st place)

Aubrey Phillips
5000 Meters: 18:45.33 (11th place) - P.R.

Valencia Wilson
400 Meters: 53.93 (1st place) - NCAA Regional - P.R.

4x400 Relay
Lobbins, Pelham, Beelendorf, Wilson: 3:42.60 (3rd place) - season-best