May 13, 2006

EL PASO, Texas - Tulane freshman Valencia Wilson was named the Conference USA Freshman of the Year after leading a pair of successful Green Wave relay squads and finishing second in the 400 meter run Saturday at the Conference USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships held at Kidd Field in El Paso, Texas.

Wilson, a freshman from Las Vegas, Nevada, ran her career-best time of 53.34 in the finals of the 400 meters to earn second place in the event, picking up eight points for the Green Wave. It tied her with Helmi Leppanen's effort in the shot put for the best finish by a Tulane athlete during the championships.

"To win this honor and be named the top freshman in Conference USA definitely says something about the program and about Valencia as an individual," said Tulane Head Coach Heather Van Norman. "After all we have been through this year, it really shows that you can overcome adversity if you keep on believing. She believes in the program, in her coach (Tulane assistant coach Derek Mills) and in herself. She has supportive teammates and she keeps persevering."

Wilson also ran a leg on both the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays for Tulane, joining Taneekwa Ross, Kyra Lobbins and Shaina Pelham on the 4 x 100 foursome to post a time of 47.17 seconds, good for sixth place. Meanwhile the 4 x 400 team of Shanon Beelendorf, Wilson, Lobbins and Vanessa Kienast finished fifth in 3:45.46.

"The four individuals that were on the 100 relay included three newcomers to our program," Van Norman said. "We put the four best people that we could for that day on that relay and they did an outstanding job. They really ran their race. The 4 x 400, I'm really proud of them because they were in different positions than what they usually run. I wanted both relays to qualify (for NCAAs) but I'm hoping it sets a tone for summer and fall training. Everyone cannot wait to have a full year together next year."

The Tulane relays were minus one of its leading sprinters in Gloria Asumnu, who ran 11.50 in the 100 meters to take sixth place, but was scratched from the 200 meters although she had qualified, and did not participate in the relays.

The Green Wave women finished the meet with 38 points, good for 10th place, ahead of 11th-place East Carolina and Marshall, which finished 12th. Houston won the women's championship for the second straight season, defeating host UTEP, 125-109.

Four Tulane men competed in the C-USA Outdoor Championships for the final time as the sport has been suspended by the university due to budget cuts necessary in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Of those four, Kris Karnes advanced to the finals of the 400 hurdles and finished sixth in the time of 59.06 to earn three points for the Green Wave.

Four members of the Green Wave women's team - Asumnu, Jurlina, Leppanen and Wilson - have qualified for the NCAA Regional meet which will be held in Knoxville, Tenn., May 27-28th. Wilson, fellow freshman Whitney Hampton and Asumnu will also compete at the U.S. Outdoor Nationals this summer.

Saturday Tulane Women's Results

100 Meters (Finals)
6th (3 points) - Gloria Asumnu, 11.50

400 Meters (Finals)
2nd (8 points) - Valencia Wilson, 53.34 (season and career best)

4 x 100 Relay (Finals)
6th (3 points) - Taneekwa Ross, Valencia Wilson, Kyra Lobbins, Shaina Pelham, 47.17

4 x 400 Relay (Finals)
5th (4 points) - Shanon Beelendorf, Valencia Wilson, Kyra Lobbins, Vanessa Kienast, 3:45.46

Discus
11th - Jelena Jurlina, 128-10/39.26m

Triple Jump
13th - Christina Tegbe, 38-11/11.86m

Women's Team Scores
1. Houston -- 125
2. UTEP - 109
3. Rice - 108.5
4. Southern Miss - 85
5. UAB - 74 and Tulsa - 74
7. SMU -- 61
8. Memphis - 46
9. UCF - 45.50
10. Tulane - 38
11. East Carolina - 33
12. Marshall - 18

Saturday Tulane Men's Results

400 Meter Hurdles (Finals)
6th (3 points) - Kris Karnes, 59.06 (season best)

-- Roll Wave --