May 10, 2002

Indianapolis, Indiana - Sophomore Jenni Goebel (Lombard, Ill./Willowbrook) set the Horizon League record in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 35:57.18 to help propel the University of Illinois at Chicago women's track and field team to fifth-place after the first day of competition at the Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships on the campus of IUPUI on Thursday evening.

Senior Monieka Thompson (Chicago, Ill./Steinmetz) joined Goebel in the winner's circle as she won the 800-meter run title. Thompson crossed the finish line in 2:12.97, which was 3½ seconds faster than her closest competitor.

UW-Milwaukee is leading the competition after the first day with 68 points, followed by a three-way tie for second place with Youngstown State, Butler and Detroit as each team has 21 points. UIC is in fifth-place with 17 points, followed by Wright State (4) and Loyola (3).

On the men's side, senior Joe Kepinski (Wadsworth, Ill./Warren) placed second in the pole vault with a mark of 13-feet, 1½ inch, to help UIC to fifth place after the first day of competition.

UW-Milwaukee is also leading the men's competition with 54 points, followed by Butler (47), Detroit (40), Loyola (26), UIC (11) and Youngstown State (1).

Junior Joe Marren (Chicago, Ill./Mount Carmel) and freshman Leslie Downing (Chicago, Ill./Holy Trinity) each recorded fourth-place finishes for UIC on Thursday. Marren was fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a mark of 9:35.92, while Downing was fourth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.78.

UIC will be back in action at 10:30 AM on Friday for the completion of the Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships.