JAMAICA, N.Y. -- Several St. Johns University fencers posted strong showings at the North American Cup, held at the Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio this past weekend. Three Red Storm fencers won their competition, with seven finishing among the top-15 overall.

The event was the first of three North American Cups this season, which gives athletes around the world an opportunity to earn a shot on the United States team and compete at the World Championships in Havana, Cuba in October, 2003.

The Red Storm contingent was led by senior Ivan Lee (Brooklyn, N.Y.), a three-time NCAA All-American and two time NCAA champion, who bested the field in the Division I mens sabre. Senior Irina Khouade (Moscow Region, Russia), a first-team All-American last season, won the Division I womens foil competition and 2002 St. Johns alum Jon Tiomkin (Hewlett, N.Y.) won the Division I mens foil.

Other top finishers for the Red Storm included freshman Nitai Kfir (Yifut Hyuamek, Israel), who tied for third in the Division I mens foil, senior Anton Gurevich (Ashkelon, Israel), who finished in eighth place in the Division I mens epee, and junior Darrin Whitmer (Detroit, Mich.), who finished in 11th place in the Division I mens sabre.

On the womens side, sophomore Christina Crane (Madison, Ga.) finished in sixth place in the Division I womens sabre.

The St. Johns fencing teams will be back in action on January 15-16, 2003, traveling to San Diego for a quad match against Stanford, Air Force, NYU and San Diego.