USU to host WAC track tourney
The school year may be coming to a close but USU’s track and field team is far from calling it quits.
The runners, throwers and jumpers head to BYU this weekend for the Robinson Invitational where every USU track athlete is looking to hit the NCAA regional qualifying marks for their event. Some of the team will then head back down to Cougar country May 1 for BYU’s Last Chance Meet.
So far this year the track has been good to the Aggies, who have broken two school records. Sophomore Sonia Grabowska set a school and WAC record in the women’s pole vault earlier this year at UCLA clearing 13-09.75. Junior Steve Strickland came into the ’09 outdoor season hot, setting a school record in the 300m steeple chase, blowing out his competition with a time of 8:49.53. Strickland’s record came in the first meet of the season at track and field holy land Heyward Field during the Oregon Invitational.
Many other Aggies have finished with season bests, new personal records and statewide honors. Three athletes have been named WAC athlete of the week and three more have been named America First Credit Union’s Utah State Student-Athlete of the Week.
Senior John Strang was awarded 2009 U-Star Male Athlete of the Year as well as the Robin’s Award Male Athlete of the Year. Strang started his USU career as a walk-on in 2004 and now graduates with a school and WAC record in the heptathlon, two conference championships in the heptathlon and two conference championships in the decathlon.
Strang, Strickland, Keith Williams, Heath Wing and Chio Lopez all have the opportunity to defend conference titles. This year’s WAC conference championships are held at home for the Aggies on USU’s Ralph Maughan Stadium Outdoor Track and Field, something Grabowska said she’s thrilled about.
“I’m really excited about the WAC championships being at home,” Grabowska said. “It’s a great opportunity to compete well and to invite friends and family to cheer for you and your teammates. It might be a little bit weird to wake up in my own bed before the most important meet of the season but I’m very excited for WAC Championships in Logan.”
Strang said the event organizers originally wanted to charge students for attendance but after a lot of hard work from the athletes, attendance is now free for WAC students.
The Western Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships will be May 13-16 so get sunscreen, a cool pair of shades and a friend to picnic with and head over to the Ralph Maughan Track, located between the football field and the student health care center.
–c.h.j@aggiemail.usu.edu