Feb. 5, 2007

Kenosha, Wis. - The UIC women's track and field team enjoyed its best showing of the 2007 season on Saturday, taking third place at the Tadd Metzger Invitational hosted by Carthage College.

The Flames, who racked up three individual event titles and three other top-three finishes, came in behind event champion Marquette (157.00) and Carthage (126.50) with 106.50 points.

Senior Rowsha LaBranche placed first in the 400-meter dash in 1:02.19. Senior Susanna Martinez took top honors in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 11:08.00.

Junior Idara Essien looked strong in her 2007 debut, as the reigning Horizon League triple jump champion took first in her strongest event with a leap of 11.38m.

UIC enjoyed a one-two finish in the triple jump as freshman Amesha Baker's distance of 11.34m was just short of Essien's mark.

Freshman Monique Bostert's second-place finish in the weight throw (12.39m) and senior Lisa Petty's third-place standing in the 5,000-meter (19:11.39) were two other highlight performances for the Flames.

UIC will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Lewis Invitational in Romeoville, Ill.