June 22, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS - All-American Gloria Asumnu set a new school record in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.19 seconds Thursday night at the 2007 Outdoor Track & Field Championships at IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium on the campus of IUPUI in Indianapolis, Ind.

"When you come to the USA Championships, you come with certain goals. Gloria and I set goals for the preliminaries and we try to run with a lot of power," said Coach Heather Van Norman. "This wasn't her best race technical-wise, but her time was obviously great."

Fellow Green Wave athlete Nicolette Taku competed in the Triple Jump at the 2007 Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships, placing seventh overall after jumping 12.17 meters (39 feet 11.25 inches).

"I was proud of Nicolette," Van Norman said. "This wasn't her best meet and her jumps were not very consistent, but I am very proud of her. She is so young, and she has had a great season."

In setting a new all-time mark for the Green Wave, Asumnu, who was the highest placing college sprinter in the 100-meter dash, clinched a place in the semifinal round slated to run Friday evening. The qualifying runners then move on to the finals, also on Friday night. Asumnu is also competing in the 200-meter dash beginning on Saturday and finishing with the semifinals and finals on Sunday.