Parker has big meet, qualifies for NCAAs
Senior James Parker qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track Championships in the weight throw as he led the USU indoor track team Friday, winning two events at the Wilson Motor Invitational.
The team hosted individuals from the University of Utah, Weber State University, Long Beach State University, Utah Valley State College, Brigham Young University and the University of Northwest Nazarene in the George
Nelson Fieldhouse.
Parker, a six-time All-American, claimed two of eight Aggie first-place finishes when he won both the 35-pound weight throw with a toss of 20.9 and the shot put with a throw of 17.9 meters.
His toss beat the second-place finisher’s by 5.1 meters, far enough to automatically qualify him for the national championships in Fayetteville, Ark., March 9-10.
Other USU winners were Clint Edmunds in the 400-meter dash, Brett Guymon in the 60-meter hurdles, Demario Franklin in the high jump, Kathleen Hobbs in the 60 meters, Amber Jensen in the mile run, and Candice Workman in the shot put.
The Aggie women dominated both the mile and the shot put. In the mile, Jensen’s teammates Christy Guymon and Shae Messersmith were close behind, finishing second and fourth. In addition to Workman’s win in the shot put, Jessica Drake-Owen finished second and Jen Jepsen finished fourth.
Head coach Gregg Gensel said he was pleased with how the Aggies competed on Friday.
“We were hoping to make individual improvements, and we certainly did that,” said USU head coach Gregg Gensel. “We had a lot of people answer the call to keep improving, and that’s what we wanted. We had 16 [personal records] set over the weekend.”
The team will compete this Friday and Saturday at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. The indoor season ends with the National Championships Mar 9-10. Outdoor begins Mar. 17.