Matthias shatters National Records as BVI athletes open 2005 season

Eric Matthias (pictured here) improved on two of his national records by two feet in each event, at a weekend meet in Nampa, Idaho on January 15, as four BVI athletes made their 2005 season debut for their respective colleges.

Matthias, a senior at Boise State University, was second in the Shot Put behind teammate Collin Post, with a heave of 15.97 meters (52’4¾”). The mark eclipsed his performance of 15.41 meter (50’6¾”) set in Houston, Texas on May 14, 2004. Matthias was third in the 35lb weight throw, placing behind teammates Mattias Jons, and Post, with a toss of 17.91 meters (58’9¼”) besting the 17.11 (56’1¾”) mark from February 28, 2004, also in Nampa.

Sprinter Tahesia Harrigan also had a busy weekend at the Kentucky Invitational in Lexington, Kentucky, at the University of Kentucky. The Alabama junior was second in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.71 seconds in the prelims, then shaved 1/100 off the mark in the finals with at time of 7.70, to finish fourth in her heat. She also recorded a time of 25.76 seconds for 200 meters. Harrigan was 10th overall in the Triple Jump with a leap of 11.39 meters (37’4½”).

Meanwhile, Ludence Smith made his debut for New Orleans University at the LSU Paper Tiger Invitational in Baton Rouge, and placed eight overall in the 400 meters with a time of 52.39 seconds. Quarter miler Kevin Fahie competed at an All Comers meet at his Cal State Northridge school. No results were immediately available.