Sprinters lead way for track and field at Cal Berkeley
The sprinters led the way for the Aggies during the Cal Brutus Open and Invitational in sunny Berkeley, Calif.
Senior Armahd Lewis raised his standing in the Utah State record books to third place with his first place run in the 100-meter of 10.41. Lewis also won the 200-meter in 21.29. Both times are personal bests for Lewis. Close behind Lewis in the sprints were sophomore Silas Pimentel (10.65) in third place, and senior Mike Pyrtle (10.68). Pimentel finished second in the 200-meter in 21.35, while Jeff Alley joined top five in 22.11. The men’s 4×100-meter relay, consisting of Lewis, Pimentel, Alley and freshman Tanner Hunt, also took home first, clocking a 40.88.
Kylie Hirschi continued to improve her time in the 400-meter hurdles with a 1:00.04. Senior Ashlee Cannon took second with a solid time of 13.83. The time is her fastest of the season. Cannon was part of the women’s 4×100-meter relay with Aubrie Haymore, Mercedes Blackwood and Bailee Whitworth, which took third place in 47.17. Whitworth ran a promising time of 12.18 to qualify for the finals of the 100-meter dash. She finished in sixth place in the finals. She also placed third in the 200-meter with a time of 24.65.
Senior Katelyn Heiner took fourth place in the 400-meter with 54.88. Tanner Hunt also took fourth in the 400-meter with a 48.78. Jason Holt continued his mid-distance domination, running his second consecutive sub-1:50 800-meter in 1:49.67. James Allred was close behind in fourth with a 1:50.44. Mercer Owen also ran, placing third in a different section in 1:51.58. Hirschi won the women’s 800-meter in 2:09.58, which is the fourth-fastest time in the WAC this season. AJ Boully ran a personal best in the 400-meter hurdles, placing second in 54.62.
Spencer Hall won his first event of the season, taking the discus with a throw of 160′ 5″. Joe Canavan threw a 51’8″ to finish fourth in the shotput. Spela Hus and Shannon Prince both took third in the shotput (46′ 8″) and discus (158′ 9″), respectively. Elsewhere in the field events, Clint Silcock got back over seven feet, jumping 7′ 0.5″ to finish in the second spot. Damian Szade landed himself in the top three in the triple jump with a jump of 44′ 0.75″. Bri Campbell tied for fourth place in the high jump with 5′ 4.25″.
Not to be outdone, the distance squad brought home the hardware as well. Steve Atinkson and Aaron Clements finished first and second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:05.74 and 9:10.64. Kim Quinn took top honors in the 5,000-meter in 16:48.89, while Daniel Howell took fifth place in the same event on the men’s side in 14:26.98. Kaylee Campbell and Stephanie Burt took second and third in the steeplechase in 11:30.68 and 11:44.35.
Meanwhile, back in Utah, Chari Hawkins led a small contingent of Utah State athletes and took home first place in the heptathlon at the Robison Invitational in Provo with an overall score of 5159.
Next up for the Aggies is the Boise State Border Clash on April 30.
– michael.d.rees@aggiemail.usu.edu