Jan. 24, 1998

Notre Dame Competes at Red Simmons Invitational

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Notre Dame men's and women's track and field teams traveled to Michigan for the Red Simmons Invitational in their second meet of the 1998 indoor season. Senior Errol Williams and junior Mike Brown led the Irish with NCAA championship provisional performances.

Williams tied an 11-year old school record with his time of 7.29 in the 55-meter hurdles. Glen Watson also went 7.29 in 1987. Williams had run 7.37 seven times before in his career for his previous career-best time. He beat Central Michigan's Greg Richardson by .04 for the win on Saturday.

Williams qualified under the 7.39 provisional mark and fell just short of the 7.23 automatic time.

Brown was named co-athlete of the meet with his pole vault of 17-6 which shattered Paul Doyle's 16-8 3/4 16-year-old school record by 9 1/4 inches. Brown's previous best had been 16-2 3/4 at both the 1996 and 1997 BIG EAST championship. His vault was 4 1/2 inches higher than the provionsal qualifying standard and 4 1/2 inches below the automatic qualifying standard.

Danny Payton and Terry Wray finished first and second in the 600 meters while Chris Cochran placed third in the 55 meters in 6.47.

On the women's side, Jennifer Engelhardt and Kelle Saxen placed second and third in the high jump. Angela Patrizio was third in the triple jump.