Two school track records set
The USU men’s and women’s track and field teams traveled to Eugene, Ore., for a two-day meet on Friday and Saturday and came home with school records, personal bests and several top finishes.
Senior Stacie Lifferth headlined the two-day event for the Aggies when she broke her own school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Her previous record was 10:24.67, which she set in 2006.
On Friday, Lifferth ran the race in a time of 10:18.89, which was good enough for a second place finish at the meet. The time also gives Lifferth the leading time for the event in the Western Athletic Conference.
Amber Peterson continued her success in the 400 hurdles as she took first place in the race with a time of 59.50. Coming in No. 1 in this race is not new for Peterson as she also crossed the finish line first the past two times she has run the race.
Ashlee Cannon, racing in the 100 hurdles, came in first place with a time of 14.84.
Senior Caroline Berry set a personal best in the 5,000 race with a time of 17:14.21. That time has her second in the Aggie record books behind Lida Ripplinger, who recorded a 16:46.76 in 2005.
Several other Aggie women had top-three finishes.
Brittany Chadwick grabbed second place in the 100 with a time 12.57 and was followed into the finish line closely by teammate Ali Cranney, who finished with a time of 12.62.
Jessica Nielson finished second place in the 200 with a time 26.04.
The women’s 4×100 relay team finished in third place with a time of 48.95, and Carrie Yost came in second place in the high jump, recording a jump of 5-05.
The men’s 4×400 meter relay team set a new school record with a time 3:12.71, good enough for a third place finish. Competing on the team are Nicholas Karren, Brett Knighton, Scott Bell and Dasheek Akwenye. Their record time also gives them the leading conference time for the season.
Individually Bell and Karren performed well in the 400 hurdles as they came in second and third with times of 52.05 and 52.42 respectively.
Other Aggie men to finish in the top three were Lamar Brown with third in both the 100 (11.20) and the long jump (21-02.50), Blake Hadfield third in the triple jump with a distance of 43-01, Tyler Ellis with third in the shot put with a throw of 48-11.75, and Tony Jones third in the 5,000 with a time of 14:28.05.
-samabry@cc.usu.edu