Track squad heads to WAC championship

    Utah State’s men’s and women’s track and field teams will travel to Boise, Idaho this week to compete in the 2009 Western Athletic Conference Indoor Championships at the Jackson Indoor Track Facility in Nampa, Idaho.
    The meet will begin on Thursday with the heptathlon and pentathlon, while running and field events will start on Friday. The Aggie men are the defending indoor champions, while the women placed fourth last year.
    “Our athletes are really looking forward to the competition this weekend and it should be close on both the men’s and women’s side,” veteran USU head coach Gregg Gensel said. “We have been working toward this meet since October and for it to actually be here is really exciting. The team is really fired up and wants to do some great things this weekend.”
    Senior Nick Karren was named the 2008 WAC Indoor Male Athlete of the Year after his performance last season placing first in the 60m hurdles and 400m, as well as a member of the first place 4×400 relay team. Gensel was also honored as he was named WAC Men’s Coach of the Year. Overall, it was the 21st Coach of the Year honor for Gensel at the time.
    The Aggies head into the championships holding seven WAC-best marks in seniors Nick Karren (400m), and John Strang (Heptathlon), junior Steve Strickland (3,000m), and sophomore Clint Silcock on the men’s side. For the women, juniors Elaine Connolly (800m) and Erin Stratton (mile), and sophomore Sonia Grabowska (pole vault) hold the top marks in WAC.