Five Aggies already qualified after first meet
Five Aggies athletes posted regional-qualifying scores at the University of Arizona’s Willie Williams Classic held in Tucson, Ariz., Friday and Saturday.
Utah State Track and Field team strutted their stuff over the weekend in their first outdoor competition of the season with seniors Nick Karren and Kirsta Larson, sophomores Sonia Grabowska and Clint Silcock, along with freshman Spela Hus all hitting regional-qualifying marks.
“To get five regional qualifiers in our first outdoor meet of the year is a fantastic way to start the outdoor season,” said long-time head coach Gregg Gensel. “We had many event winners as well. Nick ran great in winning both the 400 and 400 hurdles, and Clint picked up right where he left off from last week’s indoor championships.”
Hus qualified by placing second in the women’s shot put, throwing the 8.8-pound ball 48-05.25 feet. Fellow thrower Kirsta Larson qualified for regionals and now leads the WAC in the weight throw with her first-place throw of 183-06.00.
Grabowska’s qualifying mark came with her first-place finish in the women’s pole vault at a height of 13-3.50, also a top mark in the WAC this season.
“Krista and Spela had some terrific throws and Sonia jumped great as well,” Gensel said.
After being named an All-American in the high jump at last weeks NCAA Indoor Championships, Silcock qualified and won the men’s high jump by clearing 6-10.75.
Also with a NCAA regional qualifying mark, Karren set a new WAC-best time in the 400m hurdles crossing the line in 50.78. Karren also won the 400m dash in 47.67.
Sophomore Brian McKenna finished third in the 5,000m with a new PR of 13:50.08, and senior Blake Hadfield had a 22-03.00 distance in the long jump, good enough for second place.
Freshman Julia Stewart placed third in the triple jump with a distance of 35-03.75, while senior Katie Thatcher finished second in the 400m hurdles at 1:01.46. Indoor standout Erin Stratton won the women’s 1,500m with a PR of 4:34.55 and sophomore classmate Elaine Connolly placed third in the 800m with a time of 2:12.96, a PR of her own.
“I’m very proud of the way that all our kids performed this weekend,” Gensel said. “This is a great starting point and foundation for the outdoor season and we’ll just work on improving every week.”
This year marks the first time the Aggies will host the WAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, held May 13-16 at the Ralph Maughan Track Stadium.
The Aggies travel to US track and field holy land to compete at the Oregon Invitational in Eugene, Ore., birthplace of Nike and home to the collegiate track powerhouse Oregon Ducks on April 3.
c.h.j@aggiemail.usu.edu
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