CINCINNATI - The University of Louisville women's track and field team battled through the elements on the final day of the 2010 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships at Gettler Stadium to earn their third consecutive conference team title, while the men finished in second behind Notre Dame for the second straight year.
The Louisville women finished with a total of 108 points to win their third consecutive team title. Connecticut was runner-up with 101 points. Georgetown placed third with 86 points, while West Virginia finished with 68 points for fourth place. Villanova came in fifth with 67.50 points. In the men's race, Notre Dame claimed it seventh title with 123 points. Louisville was right behind the Irish with 114 points for the runner-up position. The men of Rutgers placed third with 112 points, while Connecticut placed fourth. Georgetown rounded out the top-five with 82 points.
U of L picked up numerous other honors, including being named the 2010 BIG EAST Women's Coaching Staff of the Year for the third straight season. Senior Jere' Summers was named the women's Most Outstanding Field Performer for the third consecutive year after winning both the discus and hammer. Junior Matt Hughes was named the men's Most Outstanding Track Performer following wins in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and 5,000-meter run.
The Cardinal women were led by the hammer throw group who earned the top three marks. Summers won the event with a throw of 200-06 (61.12m). Junior D'Ana McCarty finished runner-up with a heave of 191-09 (58.44m). Senior Lindsey Cook finished third with a toss of 188-00 (57.30m).
The 100-meter hurdles saw senior Theresa Lewis finish third with a time of 13.95.
Freshman Chelsea Brown finished fourth in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:00.58 while her teammate sophomore Shane Mullany-Banksfinished sixth.
In the high jump, freshman Michelle Theophilletook fifth via tie clearing 5-08.75 (J1.75m). Sophomore Megan Schubert finished sixth clearing 5-07.00 (1.70m).
On the men's side, leading the way was Hughes who ran a stadium-record 13:59.30 in the 5,000-meter run to win the event. Junior Matt Bruce placed sixth with a time of 14:14.83.
Senior Andre Black won the triple jump with a leap of 52-00 (15.86m).
In the pole vault, junior Kyle Gann finished fifth clearing a height of 16-02.75 (4.95m).
Overall, the Cards won 7 event titles and 19 medals this weekend.
The Cards will take a week off before returning to action for the last of three home events when they host the Cardinal Twilight on May 14. It will mark their last attempt to improve regional marks for the 2010 East Regional Championships which will be hosted in Greensboro, N.C. on May 28-29.