GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- East Carolina men and women met ECAC or IC4A qualifying marks in six events as the Pirate track and field teams continued to show steady improvement while competing at the Gator Invitational on Sunday.

ECU was among a highly competitive field that included several SEC and ACC teams, as well as nationally ranked athletes. Team scoring was not in effect.

The Pirate men gained five top-10 finishes and met IC4A qualifying marks in four events.

ECU's 4x400-meter relay team, comprised of Michael Hillian, Darrus Cofield, Domonick Richmond, and B.J. Henderson, finished off the meet with an exciting fourth-place finish, placing in front of top relay units from Georgia and Florida State. The foursome's clocking of 3:14.31 met the IC4A standard.

Cofield also met the qualifying mark in the 400 meters, finishing 10th at 48.93.

Ricardo Bell placed seventh in the 800 with an IC4A qualifying time of 1:53.54.

Two-sport athlete Damarcus Fox met his IC4A mark with a strong performance in the 55-meter dash. Fox advanced to the finals of that event and placed ninth with a run of 6.38.

Though not a full-squad meet for the Pirate women, ECU athletes met their ECAC qualifying marks in two events. Colleen McGinn cleared a season-best 5-7 in the high jump, placing ninth. Tammie Mentzel, who had already hit her ECAC mark earlier this season, placed sixth in the pole vault by clearing 11-9.75.

ECU's women is scheduled to compete at the Carolina Classic next Saturday in Chapel Hill, N.C., while select ECU men will run at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Neb.

Gator Invitational
Gainsville, Fla.
2/1/04

ECU RESULTS: WOMEN

800 Meters
12. Tara DeBrielle        2:14.72

Pole Vault
 6. Tammie Mentzel        11-9.75*

High Jump
 9. Colleen McGinn        5-7*

* denotes ECAC qualifying mark


ECU RESULTS: MEN

55 Meters
 9. Damarcus Fox          6.38*
    Damarcus Fox          6.43 (prelims)

55-Meter Hurdles
20. Hector Cotto          7.86
23. Ronnie Pollard        8.05

200 Meters
15. DeAndre Hyman         22.37
21. Ric Davis             22.73
27. Jeff Walls            23.07

400 Meters
10. Darrus Cofield        48.93*
13. Michael Hillian       49.24
14. Domonick Richmond     49.41
26. Mar'Ques Woolford     50.85

800 Meters
 7. Ricardo Bell          1:53.54*
14. Vance Stephenson      1:55.31
20. Trent Fuchs           1:57.20

4x400-Meter Relay
 4. Hillian, Cofield,     3:14.31*
    Richmond, Henderson
 7. Walls, Hyman,         3:20.94
    Pollard, Woolford

Long Jump
22. Renaldo Isaac         19-8 

Weight Throw
14. Eric Frasure          51-7
16. Mayso Porch           51-0.75

Shot Put
15. Eric Frasure          43-3.75

* denotes IC4A qualifying mark