USU tracksters do well in two big meets
The USU track and field team sent squads to two different meets over the weekend, with athletes competing at UCLA and Weber State.
The Aggies performed well at UCLA’s Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational, highlighted by sophomore Sonia Grabowska’s school and conference record setting pole vault height of 13-09.75. Grabowska’s performance is good enough for an NCAA regional qualifying spot – she finished second only to Nike pro-athlete Chelsea Johnson who was invited to compete. Grabowska now holds school records in both the indoor and outdoor season.
“Sonia set another school record,” said head coach Gregg Gensel. “I’m excited for her that she now has both the indoor and the outdoor school records. We did well this weekend against some high-caliber competition at the UCLA meet. We are showing continued improvement and that’s what we always want to see.”
Multiple Aggies hit NCAA qualifying marks in their events including, senior Katie Thatcher who ran the 400m hurdles in 60.73, seniors Nick Karren and Keith Williams who finished third and fourth respectively in the men’s 400m hurdles with times of 51.99 and 52.33. Williams also took the top spot in the men’s 110m hurdles in 14.50. In the women’s 100m hurdles junior Ashlee Cannon finished in second place at a time of 14.34
Senior Krista Larson set a new personal best in the discus with a throw of 154-08, finishing fourth in the event, while on the men’s side Daniel Cruz took sixth place with a PR throw of 161-00. Also setting a PR was senior Blake Hadfield who took third place in the triple jump with 46-09.50 and Casey Parker tho finished third in the high jump, clearing 6-06.00.
Freshman shot putter Bryce Hall performed well taking fifth place in his event, throwing 52-06.00 feet.
Ruth Hilton took second place in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase with a NCAA qualifying mark of her own, crossing the tape at 10:43.64
Tyler Ellis finished with a new shot put season best of 52-05.50, enough for third place.
Sophomore Steven Atkinson had a PR in the 3,000m steeplechase finishing in 9:30.64 for 13th place. Heidi Hopkins had a PR of her own while finishing in eighth place in the 400m hurdles with a time of 61.90.
Jessie Chugg finished sixth in the 1,500m with a time of 4:38.90, followed by Alicia Holt who finished in 10th with 4:41.63 and Kim Quinn who was in 15th at 4:49.89
Steve Strickland had a PR time in the 1,500m clocking in at 3:54.59 for eighth place.
The squad at Weber State did well with senior John Strang leading the way finishing in second place in the 110m hurdles at 14.85 as well as getting second place in the high jump after jumping 6-09.00.
Junior Cortine Broadus had a PR in the shot put with a third-place throw of 41-02.50. Kelsie Pacham had her season best in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:08.88.
Jon Goble had a new PR in the discus with a throw of 132-08.
The squad reunites this week to host the Mark Faldmo Invitational at Ralph Maughan Track Stadium just north of USU’s football field. Admission is free.
–c.h.j@aggiemail.usu.edu