Aggie Smith wins 100 meters at NCAA west regional
EUGENE, Ore. – DJ Smith won the 100-meters with a time of 10.39 to lead Utah State in the final day of competition at the 2007 NCAA West Region Track and Field meet here on Saturday. With the win, Smith automatically qualifies for the NCAA Championships in Sacramento, Calif., from June 6-9. Other Aggies who qualified for the national championships by finishing in the top-five in their respective events include Dasheek Akwenye and Nick Karren on the men’s side, and Amber Peterson on the women’s side. Akwenye finished fifth in the 400-meters with a time of 47.50, while Karren placed fifth in the 400-meter hurdles with a personal best time of 51.49. Peterson, who competed in both hurdle events on the day, recorded personal bests in each event as she finished fourth in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 58.44, and fifth in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 58.44. Those athletes who did not finish in the top five may be selected for an at-large berth to the NCAA Championships. One USU athlete who should be selected is Vance Twitchell who placed seventh in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a personal-best time of 8:50.94. Utah State had four other student-athletes compete on Saturday as Casey Parker tied for 11th in the high jump (6-9), Kat Duhadway tied for 14th in the pole vault (12-6), Stacie Lifferth finished 19th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, and Chase Taylor placed 19th in the javelin (167-0). Overall, Utah State’s men’s team finished in 15th-place with 20 team points, while the Aggie women finished 19th with nine team points. Arizona State claimed top honors on the men’s side with 94 points, while USC scored 84 points to finish first on the women’s side.
Utah State Women ResultsSaturday – All Events FinalsPole Vault – T14. Kat Duhadway (12-06)100 meter hurdles – 5. Amber Peterson (13.53)400 meter hurdles – 4. Amber Peterson (58.44)3,000 meter steeplechase – 18. Stacie Lifferth (10:46.04) Friday100 meter hurdles (prelims) – 8. Amber Peterson (13.64) 400 meter hurdles (prelims) – 5. Amber Peterson (59.54)800 meters (prelims) – 16. Amy Egan (2:10.62)1500 meters (prelims) – DNF. Jennifer Twitchell Utah State Men ResultsSaturday – All Events FinalsJavelin – 19. Chase Taylor (167-00)High Jump – T11. Casey Parker (6-9)100 meters – 1. DJ Smith (10.39)400 meters – 5. Dasheek Akwenye (47.50)400 meter hurdles – 5. Nick Karren (51.49)3,000 meter steeplechase – 7. Vance Twitchell (8:50.94) FridayHammer – 30. Kevin Liu (172-05)400 meter hurdles (prelims) – 8. Nick Karren (52.07); 12. Scott Bell (52.75)400 meters (prelims) – 5. Dasheek Akwenye (47.52)1500 meters (prelims) – 23. Tony Jones (3:53.25)