Around The Game

Women's track perform well at Billy Hayes Invite\nThe IU women's track and field team had solid performances during Friday night's 26th-annual Billy Hayes Invite. The Invite was highlighted by the Hoosiers' performance in the 1500-meter race. In the event, four out of five Hoosiers turned in personal bests as senior Audrey Giesler clocked in a time of 4 minutes, 31.35 seconds, sophomore Kelly Siefker shaved seven seconds off her previous personal best with a time of 4:31.38, junior Julie Shields turned in a 4:43.09 and freshman Kristin Whitezell ran a 4:45.36.\nFreshman hurdler Courtney Johnson, turned in a personal best in the 100-meter hurdles with a regional qualifying time of 13.55, good for a first-place finish.\nAlso turning in personal bests was junior Abbey Paul in the pole vault after she cleared a height of 3.45-meters and freshman Abbey Rinker in the hammer throw with a heave of 44.23-meters.\nThe team's performance at the Billy Hayes Invite will be used as a spring board for the Big Ten Championships, beginning Saturday in West Lafayette. \nWomen's team sputters at Regional, garners honors\nThe IU women's golf team completed its 2003-2004 season this weekend, finishing 18th in a field of 21 at the NCAA Central Regional. A top-eight performance would have qualified the Hoosiers for the NCAA Championships. \nIU was led by senior Karen Dennison, who struggled in the final round with a 6-over-par 77 and finished the Central Regional tied for 27th with a 231 (73-81-77). \nSophomore Molly Redfearn finished tied for 83rd, senior Mary Lidester carded an 87 in the final round to finish tied for 86th at 244. Senior Ambry Bishop struggled to a final round 89, finishing 105th at 254 (81-84-89). \nThe 2004 regional marked the Hoosiers' 12th consecutive NCAA Regional appearance. \nBig Ten individual champion, senior Danah Ford competed in the final round and shot a 78 after sitting out the second round due to illness.\nAfter the tournament, the Big Ten conference awards were announced and IU coach Sam Carmichael was named the Big Ten coach of the year, marking the eighth time he's received the honor. \nHonored along with Carmichael were Dennison and Ford, as both were named to the first team All-Big Ten team.\nHoosiers place 5th at Big Ten Tourney\nThe Hoosiers were led by junior Mike Birkenfeld who shot a 69, 2-under-par during the final round Sunday to finish the tournament in a tie for 17th place. \nJunior Jeff Overton, the Big Ten's Golfer of the Week for four consecutive weeks, shot a 217 for the tournament and finished tied for 22nd. Rounding out the Hoosiers performances this weekend were juniors Heath Peters, tied for 28th, sophomore Scott Seibert, tied for 34th and freshman David Butwell who placed in a tie for 36th. \nAs a team, the Hoosiers finished fifth 13-over-par, 23 strokes behind first-place Ohio State. Buckeyes senior Kevin Hall won the individual Big Ten title, 11 shots ahead of his nearest competitor, shooting 14-under-par for the weekend.\nAfter the tournament, Overton was named the unanimous choice for Big Ten Golfer of the Year as he won five tournaments and claimed the conference's Golfer of the Week honor five times, including a current streak of four straight. \nAlong with the top honor, Overton was also named to the first All-Big Ten team and teammate Peters was named to the All-Big Ten second team.\nTeam keeps tourney hopes alive with win\nThe IU softball team kept its 2004 Big Ten tournament hopes alive this weekend with a 7-2 victory over in-state rival Purdue. The Hoosiers (32-30, 7-12) currently sit in a three-way tie for seventh place with Michigan State and Penn State. The top-eight teams in the conference qualify for the Big Ten tournament, which will begin Thursday in Ann Arbor, Mich., at the home of 2004 Big Ten regular season champions Michigan.\nSophomore Mariangee Bogado recorded her 16th win of the season, going five-plus innings and striking out five batters. At the plate, the Hoosiers were led by sophomore designated hitter Lauren Hines, who was 2-for-2 with a walk, a run scored and two RBIs, senior right fielder Val White was 1-for-3 with two RBIs, while senior first baseman Karly McCormack was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.\n"We were a little anxious going into the game today, but we got some emotion going after the first couple of innings," IU coach Sara Hayes Nottger said. "I was impressed with how much energy, confidence and drive the team had. It is nice, at this point in the season, to be playing for something"