June 22, 2003

University of North Carolina junior Alice Schmidt (Omaha, Neb.) placed fifth in the finals of the 800 meters Sunday at the 2003 USA Track and Field National Championships at Stanford.

Freshman Justin Ryncavage won the Junior National title in the men's javelin with a throw of 211-1. The win qualifies the Wilkes Barre, Pa., native for the Junior Pan American Games later this summer.

Schmidt, who won her second consecutive NCAA outdoor title in the 800 eight days ago, was the top collegian in the 800 at the USA meet, She finished fifth in 2:01.64, less than half a second behind her ACC record time set in winning the NCAA meet.

Veteran Jearl Miles-Clark of Team New Balance won the 800 in 1:58.84. Nike's Nicole Teter was second in 1:59.91, Nike Jennifer Toomey was third in 2:00.12 and Farm Team's Chantee Earl was fourth in 2:00.68.

Former Tar Heel Allen Johnson won the 110 hurdles Saturday, the fourth year in a row and sixth time overall Johnson won the U.S. outdoor title.

Other former Tar Heels also fared well at the US Championships. Tisha Waller was third in the women's high jump (6-3 1/2), Nicole Gamble was third in the women's triple jump (45-7 1/4 and Crystal Cox was sixth in both the 200 and 400 meters.

Current Tar Heels Shalane Flanagan and Laura Gerraughty had outstanding performances earlier in the meet. Flanagan was second in the 5000 and fifth in the 1500. Gerraughty was third in the shot put.