Aggies sprint to strong finish
The Utah State University indoor track team competed against Long Beach State University, the University of Utah, Weber State University and BYU and won seven individual events at the Wilson Motor Invitational Saturday in the Fieldhouse.
Head Coach Gregg Gensel said the purpose of the meet was to see how individuals on the team were competing and where they need to improve.
“I liked the way everyone competed today,” he said. “It’s nice to know that they’re making an effort to do their best. We had a lot of good, solid performances.”
A Fieldhouse record was set by Charles Klinger from Ogden, who competed in the meet unattached. His jump of 7 feet, 7.75 inches set the record. Klinger, who is 6 feet 6 inches tall, won the NCAA Championships in the high jump last year in both indoor and outdoor track.
“I’ve never jumped here before,” he said. “I had no idea what the record was. I was hoping to get 7′ 8″, and that second jump I was almost over.”
Many Aggies also competed well, though they didn’t break any records.
Several commented it was the home crowd which helped them.
Sandra Reategui, who won the 60-meter dash and set a personal record with a time of 7.74 seconds, said it was her friends that helped her race so well.
“It’s always better to get the support of your friends, and my teammates are also awesome,” Reategui said. “I’m really excited for this season.”
Carol Cabanillas, who earned second in the 3,000 with a time of 10:50.1, said it was also helpful to compete on the same track which she trains on.
“Running at home was like being in a comfort zone because I train here,” she said. “I had a pretty good time.”
Steve Prescott was another first-place finisher for the Aggies. He won the 5,000 with a time of 16:03.3 and earned seventh in the mile in 4:33.4.
“It was the first time I ran the 5,000 this season, so that made it more fun,” he said. “I was just going out to have fun because I still had to run the mile.”
Maurice Jenkins won the pole vault, clearing 5.06 meters (16′ 7″), an individual season best. He said he plans on going to nationals this season because he did last year.
“Last season, I went 17′ 5″, so it wasn’t quite there,” Jenkins said. “But it’s early enough that I’ve still got some time. Things are coming together pretty good. I went to nationals last year, so I have to go this year, too.”
Other first-place finishers for the Aggies were Kristen Coombs in the mile (5:15.22), Justin Wickard in the 60 hurdles (8.04), Candice Workman in the shot put (45′ 10″) and Anthony Stewart in the 60 dash.
In addition, the men’s 4×400 relay won the event with a time of 3:30.08.
Gensel said he considered the track meet a success, and he liked how everyone cheers for the competitors, even if they are from a different team.
“Track meets are unique because people support a good effort,” he said. “You don’t get people supporting the other team in basketball, but in track, you do.”
The Aggies will be away at Pocatello, Idaho this week for the Idaho State Invitational.