The Cornell women extended their unprecedented championship run to six
in a row last May in Princeton, but the Big Red inexplicably fell to
third at Indoor Heps this March. That has left the rest of the League
wondering if their outdoor streak is in jeopardy this weekend at the
2008 Outdoor Heptagonals, hosted at Dwyer Track by Yale University.
But right off the bat, those other schools must contend with star athlete
Jeomi Maduka (Arlington, Texas), who this year became the first woman
ever to compete in the NCAA basketball tournament the same season as
being recognized an indoor All-American in track and field. The junior is
literally feet ahead of the competition this season, setting the Ivies' best
outdoor marks in both the long jump (21-7 1/4) and the triple jump
(43-0 1/4).
And while Maduka is poised to capture both events, just like she did at
the last indoor and outdoor championships, she is also entered in the
100-meter dash with the season's top time (11.85). Even with the
absence of an injured Thelma Breezeatl, the Heps' outdoor record holder
of the event from Brown, the race will still be tight thanks in part to
junior Melissa
Ikono (Frisco, Texas) of Columbia and Harvard junior Favia Merritt (Hollywood, Md.), both of whom are also under 12 seconds this year.