Uzoaru looks for a break in finals

As a student in Tallahassee, Fla., Central High School graduate Marisa Uzoaru won't have to travel far to find the hottest spring break sites this year.

But at least for a weekend, she'll turn her focus to Fayetteville, Ark., where she will compete today for a title in the NCAA Indoor Track Championships.

Uzoaru claimed title after title this year in the high jump, winning four of five indoor meets, including her third straight Mid Eastern Athletic Conference title. Uzoaru is no stranger to big competition either, since this is her second NCAA Championships trip, but first indoors. She is the reigning conference champion both indoor and outdoor.

Yet with all this success, Uzoaru said she's a little nervous entering today's national event.

"I am, because it's my first indoors," she said.

Uzoaru was chosen as an All-American last year during the outdoor season and has been ranked as high as fourth in the nation indoors this season. Uzoaru enters today's meet tied for the ninth-best jump out of the 15-woman field.

"My first goal is just to finish in the top eight," she said. "Finishing in the top four isn't out of the question."

Despite all of Uzoaru's success, she initially didn't even plan to participate in track when she got to Tallahassee following a standout track career at Central.

"I really didn't think I was good enough," Uzoaru said.

Uzoaru went to Florida A&M on an academic scholarship and began practicing with the track team only after forming friendships with several track athletes. From those beginnings Uzoaru has become an All-American and dominant high jumper.

Competing against tough track competition like LSU and Florida has helped Uzoaru come into the indoor nationals with a new level of confidence.

"I'm always competing against some of the best athletes," she said. "Of course, winning my conference championship was a big thing for me."

Uzoaru's trip to the outdoor national meet also serves as a confidence builder.

"Coming in with a a little more experience helps," Uzoaru said.

And while Uzoaru will not be one of the favorites to claim the national title, a big jump would put her in the thick of things.

"Over the past couple of meets we've all had good jumps," Uzoaru said. "I've been pretty consistent."

Uzoaru said it would likely take a personal record jump to come away a champion.

"If I win it all that would be a real blessing, but that would be a bit of a stretch," she said.

Noteworthy

Central graduate Craig Ringwald, a senior lefthander at Murray State, was chosen Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week. Ringwald struck out 14 batters and allowed no earned runs in 10 1/3 innings to post a 2-0 record last week.

Rend Lake College point guard Courtney Vickery, a Notre Dame graduate, averaged a team-high 4.4 assists through 18 games. Vickery was third on the team through 18 games in steals with 28 and averages nearly four points a game.

Delta graduate Erin Cook and Jackson graduate Tiffany McElreath look to contribute to another strong Webster University softball season as the Gorloks entered the NCAA Division III preseason poll ranked 22. The Gorloks finished 32-7 last season. McElreath, a freshman, is entering her first year with the club, while Cook is in her second season with the Gorloks. Cook played 14 games last season, going 7-for-14 with three RBIs and eight runs scored.

Central graduate Sarah Hyslop finished her first season with the University of Missouri-St. Louis' basketball team when the Riverwomen fell 68-53 to Indianapolis March 5 in the quarterfinals of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. Hyslop averaged five points and two rebounds and was second on the team with 38 steals. The Riverwomen finished 13-14.