Can you believe Houston is back in the NCAA men's basketball tournament for the first time in 18 seasons? Can you further believe it’s already been 26 years since the end of Houston’s “Phi Slama Jama” run of three consecutive Final Fours?

Let’s blend some modern headlines and a trip down memory lane.

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"Tommie football was one of only four Division III schools -– and 16 NCAA schools at all levels -- to surpass 500 points during the 2009 season.”

Remember how much fun it was last fall to watch Glenn Caruso’s guys use kick returns, long runs, short passes and even some field goals to keep opponents on their heels.

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“St. Thomas women win distance medley relay at NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.”

Remember the last Tommie women’s team to win an NCAA relay –- the 4x100 relay back in 1997? Freshman Taylor Berg, who led off Friday’s championship relay, was in kindergarten then.

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“Tommie swimmers win program’s first MIAC team title since 1954.”

Remember the last UST swimming heyday? The popular “Ike” on the St. Thomas campus then was Dwight Eisenhower, instead of recent grad Isaac Rosefelt?

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“Tommie baseball loses 12-inning game at Metrodome to Minnesota Gophers, 5-4.”

Remember when the prime goal of Tommie baseball teams facing the U of M was to avoid getting shutout or blown out?

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“UST freshman Eyo Ekpo takes fifth at nationals in triple jump, has top-three finishes in three jumps events at MIACs.”

Remember when the young Tommie jumper with so much potential was named Leonard Jones?

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“West Region gets one spot, East Region gets other three in Division III men’s hockey Final Four.”

Remember when the West used to get a fair shake in the NCAA postseason hockey selections/brackets? (Come to think of it, I guess that rarely happens).
 

Hoop talk

“Gopher men’s hoops allows just 42 points on Saturday… then gives up 90 points on Sunday.”

Remember when it was just the Gopher football team that was inconsistent?

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“NCAA men’s basketball tournament field of 65 includes seven Texas schools.”

Remember when Texas was considered a football state?

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“Ten of the 27 programs that have reached the Final Four in the last nine seasons -- North Carolina, Memphis, U. Conn, UCLA, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, LSU, Oklahoma, George Mason –- don’t make 2010 NCAA tournament field.”

Remember the 2001 Final Four here at the Metrodome, when Duke won the title, and Arizona made its most recent Final Four trip?

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“Indiana goes 10-21 this season in men’s basketball… a step up from a 6-25 record of 2008-09.”

Remember when the Hoosiers, rather than Toyotas, were impossible to stop?

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“Two big events hit Twin Cities in 1992: Mall of America opens... and Metrodome hosts Michigan’s “Fab 5” in Final Four.”

Remember the hype when the Wolverines came to town with the first and only Final Four freshman starting five?

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“Viking fans pay for billboard ads to woo 40-year-old Brett Favre's return.”

Remember when it was the St. Paul Saints, not the Minnesota Vikings, who used to bring in old guys to resurrect their careers?

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“Minnesota’s final one-class state hockey tournament held in 1991” (the same year most current UST freshmen were born).”

Remember before 1975, when all Minnesota state prep meets were contested with just one class?

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“Edina rules 2010 Class AA boys hockey, becomes ninth different school to win championship in last nine seasons.”

Remember the days of dynasties in Minnesota prep sports?

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“Broadcasters Anthony LaPanta (St. John’s alum) and Kevin Gorg (St. Thomas alum) called last Saturday’s state hockey title game for KFAN Radio.”

Remember when Johnnies and Tommies only communicated with each other with game-day T-shirts or in chat rooms.

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“Bloomington’s Mall of America buys naming rights to Metrodome playing field.”

Remember when the Vikings outdoors played in Bloomington from 1961-1981 at the present site of the Mall of America?

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“Timberwolves lose Sunday night; take 15th loss in last 16 games.”

Remember when the Wolves had some meaningful games in March and April… nah, me neither.

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“Minnesota Timberwolves create fan website called ‘Wolves Nation.’

Remember when a “nation” consisted of more than 479 people? (Do you think they should downgrade to "Wolves Neighborhood.")

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Pop culture

“Poll: Three of top four favorite TV programs for teenage girls are reality TV shows”

Remember when American idols used to be parents, teachers, military, clergy, police and firefighters?

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“Russia spends $117 million on athletes and teams for Vancouver Olympics, only nets three gold medals; Putin angry.”

Remember the old days when Russia had the best Olympic teams money could buy?

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“2010 Winter Olympics brings 20-year anniversary of hockey’s “Miracle on Ice.”

Remember that four years before the U.S. won perhaps the famous gold medal in Olympics history, the U.S. was robbed of a basketball gold medal in Munich in 1972 when Russia was given two do-overs at the end of the game? (To this day, no American player has accepted his silver medal.) http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/06/30/spt_three_seconds_from.html

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“D.C.’s Coolidge High School hires female as head football coach… Texas Christian wins NCAA Co-ed Rifle championship with all-female team.”

Remember when it was thought that a women’s place was in the kitchen?

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“Collegiate Rock-Paper-Scissors Championship starts today in Acapulco, Mexico.”

Remember when study-abroad classes had more substance?

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"Wrecking ball dismantles O'Shaughnessy Hall on Tommie campus."

Remember last fall, seeing how cluttered the sports information office was (207 OSH) and thinking it couldn't be more of a disaster area? Well, it is. Ah, progress...
 
 

http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view_video/236745-2010-ncaa-d3-indoor-track-and-field-championships/317456-university-of-st-thomas-2010-ncaa-division-3-national-dmr-champions

The Tommies, who came in seeded fifth, had taken second in this event in both 2008 and 2009.

Freshman Taylior Berg of Eagan, senior Nikki Arola of Ely, senior Erin Sprangers of Hill-Murray, and senior Kelly Russ of Wayzata clocked 11:50.46 and won by more than one second over runner-up UW-Eau Claire.

"There are no words to describe how we feel right now," Russ said. "It's an amazing accomplishment. The last two years we finished second in this event, so it feels amazing that our hard work paid off and we were able to become national champions. We were so focused we didn't hear the crowd. We paid attention to our coach and focused on the task at hand. The three of us (Arola, Sprangers, Russ) have been together for the last three national indoor meets and to finally stand at the top of the podium caps off a tremendous indoor season."

Russ passed up entering the mile and Sprangers passed up racing in the 800, as both events had prelim races right before the distance-medley final.

The Tommies collected 10 teams points and became just the fourth unit in Minnesota history to win an NCAA track and field relay at nationals. The Tommie women were NCAA champs in 1997 outdoors in the 4x100, and UST won the 4x100 and 4x400 on the men's side last May at outdoor nationals.

Besides the four relays, Tommie women's and men's track ansd field has 52 all-time individual champions.

The lone Tommie men's competitor on Friday was Mike Hutton, who had the third fastest qualifying time in the 800 meters. He clocked 1:52.80 and will be in the eight-man finals on Saturday.

Three other MIAC individuals scored points and made All-America on Friday -- St. Mary's junior Andrew Brueggen (61-4 1-4) and Hamline junior Derall King (60-10) placed 4-5 in the men's hammer; and Gustavus' Kaelene Lundstrom (5-5 1-4) placed eighth in the women's high jump.

The two-day meet finishes Saturday.

Women's Team Leaders

1   Wisconsin Oshkosh      14.0
   2   Wartburg College       13.0
   3   University of Chicago  11.0
  4=   Univ of St. Thomas     10.0
  4=   New Jersey City U      10.0
   6   Moravian College        9.0
  7=   Wisconsin La Crosse     8.0
  7=   Wisconsin Eau Claire    8.0
  7=   Rose-Hulman Inst Tech   8.0
  7=   Bates College           8.0

Click here to view results:

http://www.raceberryjam.com/indexid.html

Saturday events can be viewed live here:

http://all-access.cbssports.com/player.html?code=ncaa&media=172659

On Saturday afternoon, the Tommies will compete in the men's and women's 4x400 relays; Hutton will race in the 800; and Eyo Ekpo will compete in the triple jump.

Click here for an MIAC news release that lists all conference entrants:

http://www.miac-online.org/news/2010/3/10/MITRACK_0310101235.aspx

Sweeney won his 64th conference title with the St. Thomas women's squads in cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field. St. Thomas used depth and balance to repeat as team champions for the 11th year in a row. The Tommies only had three victories but scored in 19 of 20 events and totaled 158 points. Eighteen different Tommies scored in individual or relays events.

Under Sweeney, UST has won 23 of 26 indoor team crowns and 25 of 28 outdoor titles.

Sweeney has five women's athletes competing Friday and Saturday at the NCAA Championships in Greencastle, Ind. Nikki Arola, Molly Demmer, Taylor Berg, Kelly Russ, Erin Sprangers and run on either the 4x400 relay or the distance-medley relay. The Toms took second nationally in the distance-medley in 2008 and 2009.

Bethel's Marie Borner and Gustavus' Kaelene Lundstrom won the top individual awards.

Click here to view more Greg Smith action photos:

www.gsmithsports.com

Coach Joe Sweeney won his 64th conference team title with Tommie women's' squads in cross country and track. It was the 11th year in a row that St. Thomas swept the indoor women's and men's team titles.

The Tommies only had three victories but scored in 19 of 20 events and totaled 158 points. Eighteen different Tommies scored in individual or relays events.

Gustavus was runner-up in the 12-team field with 130, while St. Ben's placed third at 85.

UST led the Gusties just 136-130 through 17 events but outscored them 22-0 in the meet's last three events (200, 3,000 and 4x400 relay).

St. Thomas won the last event, the 4x400 relay, in 3:57.02 with Molly Demmer, Erin Sprangers, Russ and Nikki Arola.

Russ was second in Saturday's 1000 (2:58.04) and took second in Friday's mile and 800.

Sprangers was second in Saturday's 600 (1:36.63) and won Friday's 800.

Arola took second in Saturday's 200 meters (25.86) after placing second in the 400 and fourth in the 55 on Friday.

UST also placed second in the 800 relay in 1:46.52 with Jenna Ewing, Demmer, Laura Janas and Julianna Gorder. Janas had won Friday's 55 hurdles. Demmer also took sixth in the 600 (1:39.67) and and was sixth in Friday's 400.

Traci Pastoors placed third in the triple jump (35-3 1-4). Freshman Nicole Flackey took fourth in the shot put (39-10 1-2). Allie Metzler was fifth in the 3,000 after getting fourth in Friday's 5,000. Angela McGehee was seventh in the pole vault (10-2). In the 1000, Taylor Berg (3:00.80), Raynee deGrio (3:01.34) and Cathy Reeves (3:02.50) placed 5-6-8.

Click here for complete results:

http://raceberryjam.com/2010/miacwomeninevt.html

Check back Monday for more Greg Smith action photos

To view other Greg Smith action photos, click here:

www.gsmithsports.com

 Freshman Nicole Flackey in the shot put. (Greg Smith photo)

 Traci Pastoors took thid in the triple jump. (Greg Smith photo)

UST is seeking its 12th consedcutive team title, while the Gusties are chasing their first team crown in track and field. St. Thomas weathered four strong Gustie events -- the long jump, weight throw, heptathlon and high jump.

Erin Sprangers won the 800 in a meet-record and NCAA provisional time of 2:14.47 and Kelly Russ placed second in the 800 (2:15.64) and mile (4:58) to lead the Tommies on Friday.

Laura Janas won the 55 hurdles in 8.66.

UST also took second in the distance medley relay as freshman Taylor Berg helped pull out eight team points on the anchor leg. Larissa Peyton, Bekah Frank, Cathy Reeves and Berg clocked 12:29.09.

Nikki Arola was second in the 400 in an NCAA provisional time of 58.51 and also took fourth in the 55 dash. Molly Demmer was sixth in the 400.

Allie Metzler was fourth in the 5,000 (17:50.12). Raynee DeGrio was fourth in the 800 (2:18.27).

In the weight throw, Jenna Lewis was third with a 51-1 3-4 toss and Megan Honan placed fifth in 49-11 3-4. 

Click here for link to Friday results:

http://raceberryjam.com/2010/miacwomeninevt.html

Gustavus and host Carleton are expected to pose the biggest challenges.

Last year, the Toms held off the runner-up Gusties by a 34-point margin outdoors and by a 54-point margin indoors.

The Toms have captured 47 of the last 53 MIAC team championships contested indoors and outdoors since 1983. St. Thomas men and women have won 100 all-time MIAC team titles in indoor and outdoor track and field. 

Coach Joe Sweeney’s Tommies will rely on depth and a few dynamic competitors in their title chase.

St. Thomas graduated All-American middle-distance runner Katie Theisen, but has solid depth and will look to score in most of the 21 events.

Sweeney has a few elite athletes to build around:

--Senior All-American Kelly Russ is ranked nationally ranked in the 800, mile and on the distance medley relay.

--Senior All-Americans Nikki Arola (55-200-400-relays) and Erin Sprangers (relays, middle distances) have been dominant MIAC meet performer throughout their careers;

--Junior Megan Honan (weight throw) and senior Laura Janas (55 hurdles) are seeded first in the MIAC in their events.

The Toms have five NCAA provisional or automatic qualifiers. In the MIAC season-best list, UST has 16 athletes or relays ranked in the top-four, including five that are seeded first. 

The Tommies have displayed a mental toughness all season as they deal with on-campus construction, which took away their indoor facility and locker rooms and downsized the weight room and training room. Most UST athletes have had to travel to the Minneapolis Lake Street YMCA for early-morning workouts, or to Mendota Heights for throwing workouts. The distance and middle-distance runners have had to deal with icy and snowy paths outdoors for much of the winter.

Click here for MIAC season-best times at Raceberryjam:

http://www.raceberryjam.com/miacindwomenperf10.html

Click here for MIAC meet webpage with schedules, entries, results:

http://www.miac-online.org/sports/2010/2/3/MITRACK_0203101706.aspx?id=5596

Click here for MIAC meet previews:

http://www.miac-online.org/news/2010/3/3/MITRACK_0303105703.aspx

Sprangers won the 600 in 1:37.87, which ranks third best in the MIAC. Russ won the 1000 in 2:57.82, which ranks second best in the MIAc, and Taylor Berg (3:02.49), Raynee DeGrio (3:04.08), Cathy Reeves (3:04.51) placed 2-3-4.

Laura Janas won the 55 hurdles in 8.72, while Traci Pastoors took sixth (9.24).

Megan Honan (51-3) and Jenna Lewis (50-9 1/2) went 1-2 in the weight throw. Honan's throw hit an NCAA provisional mark but was just under her MIAC-leading season best of 51-9. Lewis' time ranks third in the MIAC.

Nicole Flackey was sixth in the weight throw (47-7).

UST also placed 4-5-6-7 in the shot put with Felisha Willaert (39-2 1/4), Flackey (38-11), Lewis (38-7) and Sarah Lemke (38-5 1/2).

UST won the 4x200 relay (1:47.28).     

Allie Metzler took second in the mile (5:20.99), and Al Johnson took eighth (5:38.86).

Nikki Arola took second in the 200 (25.70) and fourth in the 55 (7.51).

Molly Demmer was third in the 400 (60.29) and sixth in the 200 (26.79).

In the pole vault, Brittany Daniel (10-2 3-4) and Angela McGehee (9-9) placed third and sixth.

Bekah Frank was seventh in the 400 (62.74).

Jenna Ewing placed eighth in the 55 (7.62) and eighth in the 200 (27.25).

Julianna Gorder was eighth in the long jump (15-7 1/2).

The Toms compete next Friday and Saturday in the MIAC Championships at Carleton College in Northfield.

Click here for complete Qualifier results:

http://www.stolaf.edu/athletics/track/women/media/2009-10/results/2010-02-26.htm

The all-senior quartet of Molly Demmer, Erin Sprangers, Kelly Russ and Nikki Arola ran an NCAA Provisional Qualifying time of 3:56.88 at the University of Minnesota Parents' Day Open. The quartet finished third in the meet, and now have the seventh best time on the Division III National list. Their time is the fastest in the MIAC this season, and was a mere .03 behind the MIAC Indoor conference meet record set during the 2009 season.

Russ is also ranked nationally in the top 10 in the 800, the mile and on the distance medley relay, with Sprangers and Arola.