Track and field squads have solid weekend
The USU track and field team split up, traveling to three different venues, Air Force Academy, Boise State and the University of Washington, to compete in its final weeks of preparation before for the WAC championship meet at Boise State.
The Aggie distance team shone at the Husky Classic at the University of Washington in Seattle with every competing USU athlete setting a new personal record in their events. Junior Erin Stratton stood out, coming in 25th place in the women’s mile, setting a new PR and finishing with the fastest time in the WAC. Stratton also became the fifth-fastest to run the mile in USU history with a 4:52.40 time. Allison Taylor and Jessie Chugg finished the mile race in 50th and 51st place for the competition with times of 5:01.90 and 5:01.94.
In the men’s mile, Heath Wing set his PR finishing in 4:24.95 for 62nd place.
The 3,000m distance race was strong for the Aggies as well, with Ruth Hilton and Kim Quinn receiving the second- and third-fastest times in the WAC. Hilton finished in 9:59.48, third fastest in USU history, while Quinn finished in 10:01.65 placing her in seventh in school history.
Steve Strickland finished on top of the 3,000m for the Aggie men, coming in 55th with 8:20.55, Strickland now leads the WAC with that time. Chio Lopez put himself in second place in the WAC standings by crossing the line 63rd at 8:26.75. Senior Ben Kessen who missed most of last season after being struck by a car finished in 79th, giving him the fourth-best time in the WAC with 8:33.87.
At the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., the women came to compete as well, led by the 4x400m women’s relay team which took first place, finishing in 3:52.25. Sonia Grabowska won the women’s pole vault, clearing 13 feet 7.25 inches. Kimiko Kamo set her season best, finishing in seventh place in the 60 meter dash with 7.92. Ashlee Cannon got second place in the 60m hurdles with 8.55, a time that put her in third place within the WAC. In the woman’s 400m Elaine Connolly set a new PR running a 56.00 and finishing in second place.
USU’s men finished with four of the top five 60m hurdle times, coming in second through sixth. Dylan Nielson took second, Nick Karren third, Keith Williams and John Strang fourth and fifth. Strang got a new season best in the 60m dash finishing third with 6.91. Blake Bolen also had his personal best time with 6.94.
In women’s shot put, Spela Hus finished in fifth place and junior Shannon Prince finished in sixth while on the men’s side Bryce Hall placed fifth.
Damian Szade finished in seventh place in the long jump and Hadfield followed him in ninth. Clint Silcock once again excelled in the men’s high jump, getting second place by clearing 7-00.50, Casey Parker and Strang finished the high jump in third and fifth. Tara Pickett set a new PR in the woman’s high jump, clearing 5-07.00, a height that also put her tied for third-best in the WAC.
In Colorado, the group of men placed fourth with 69 points, while the women took third with 71 points.
In Boise State Jake Maybe finished second in the men’s pole vault clearing 14-03.25. The Aggies finished in third and fourth in the men’s mile with Brian McKenna finishing in 4:29.88 and Nick Bolinder in 4:29.92. Sam Hawkins finished the 60m hurdles in 9.96, a new season best.
“We went into this weekend wanting to get our final preparation for conference meet and I think we accomplished that,” said USU head coach Gregg Gensel. “Overall, it was a really great weekend for us. It was just a great overall performances by the Aggie team. They are stepping it up when it counts.”
USU’s track team has a week off of competition before they travel to the Jackson Indoor Track Facility in Boise to compete for the WAC championships.