Utah State Men’s Track And Field Wins Third Straight WAC Outdoor Championship; Women Take Second

 Utah State men’s track and field team won the 2011 Western Athletic Conference Outdoor Championship in Honolulu with 180 points, making it the third straight title and fourth in the last five years. The women’s team took second behind Louisiana Tech who has won seven straight championships and 13 of the last 14.

For the women, the second-place finish is the highest they have earned in the WAC as well as the highest since 2001 when they also placed second in the Big West Conference.

The Aggie men amassed 180 points to win the title, outdistancing traditional rival Boise State (169.33 points). Louisiana Tech was third with 123 points, followed by Fresno State (89.33) and Idaho (85.33).

USU’s women totalled 138 points, finishing behind Louisiana Tech’s winning 152 points. Nevada, who led after the third day of competition, finished third with 125.5 points, followed by Fresno State (92), Idaho (91), New Mexico State (82), Boise State (69) and Hawai’i (65.5).

Due to the four-hour time difference, Utah State Athletics only included the events that finished before 10 p.m. (MT) in order to accommodate media outlets deadlines. All events that took place after 10 p.m. are included in this release. For the complete list of results fans can visit www.utahstateaggies.com orwww.wacsports.com.

Individual awards were voted on by all the coaches in the conference at the end of the championships. USU freshman Chari Hawkins was named the Women’s Freshman of the Year while senior Jason Holt garnered the Men’s Co-Outstanding Track Performer of the meet along with USU veteran head coach Gregg Gensel claiming his third straight Men’s Coach of the Year and fourth in the last five years.

“They did a great job and we are all really excited,” said Gensel. “The women kept battling back and it was a battle all day long. As for the guys, you can’t ask any more than what they did. They did a great job of putting things together and it was a battle.”

When asked about his thoughts on receiving the Coach of the Year award, he said, “It means the athletes did a great job and the coaches did a great job. No coach wins this award with out all the work they all do. We have such terrific athletes and a great coaching staff and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Hawkins was able to reflect on her award and championship in the heptathlon to earn first-team all-WAC, as well as a pair of second-team all-conference accolades after finishing fifth in both the 100m hurdles and the high jump.

“It was such a great accomplishment for me to be named Freshman of the Year,” she said. “The girls I competed against came in so strong and having that level of competition helped me give it my best. This was one of the most emotional heptathlons I have had, but the way it turned out was just so awesome. It is crazy to be in a Hawai’i and it is fun. My team is so amazing and I am grateful for everyone of them. I couldn’t have done this without them.”

Holt took a moment to explain his journey to his award, which included winning the 800m title, and running a leg of USU’s third-place 4x400m relay team, earning first-team all-WAC honors for both.

“It felt great, it went out a little faster than I hoped,” he said. “The guy from Louisiana Tech started out a little quicker than I had hoped but I caught up with him at about the 500 meter mark. I was able to hold on the last few hundred meters and ran personal-bests each day. I overcame injuries and a lot of stuff along the way, so to be at this spot now is amazing.” On being name the Co-Outstanding Track Performer of the meet he said, “It means a lot. I feel honored to get the award knowing that I worked so hard to get where I am. I didn’t think I was going to get it. I didn’t think about it; I just went and gave it my best. I feel lucky and honored to receive it.”

Winning individual WAC titles for the Aggie men were the senior trio of Holt (800m), Eric Larson (1500m) and Clint Silcock (high jump) along with freshman AJ Boully (400m hurdles). USU women title winners were junior Ruth Hilton (3000sc) and Hawkins (heptathlon).

Boully helped stretch the Aggies’ dominance in the 400m hurdles as Utah State has now won five-straight WAC titles in that event. Joining Boully in those five wins were Nick Karren (2007, 2009 and 2010) and Keith Williams (2008).

Silcock won his second-straight high jump title while Holt, Larson, Hawkins and Hilton all won their first WAC outdoor title.

Fans can follow Utah State Athletics, including USU track and field, at http://twitter.com/USUAthletics.com or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

FIRST-TEAM ALL-WAC (UTAH STATE)

WOMEN

Ashlee Cannon (100h – second)

Chari Hawkins (heptathlon – first)

Ruth Hilton (3000sc – first/5000m – third)

Kylie Hirschi (400h – third)

Spela Hus (shot put – third)

Shannon Prince (discus – third)

Kim Quinn (5000m – second/10,000m – third)

Bailee Whitworth (200m – third)

Alicia Wilkins (3000sc – third)

MEN

James Allred (800m – second/4x400m – third)

Steven Atkinson (3000sc – third)

AJ Boully (400h – first/4x400m – third)

Eric Follett (high jump – third)

Spencer Hall (discus – third)

Jason Holt (800m – first/4x400m – third)

Daniel Howell (3000sc – second/5000m – third)

Tanner Hunt (4x100m – second/4x400m – third)

John Johnson (pole vault – second)

Eric Larson (1500m – first)

Armahd Lewis (4x100m – second)

Brian McKenna (10,000m – third)

Kyle McKenna (10,000m – second)

Hunter Nelson (1500m – third)

Philip Noble (decathlon – second)

Mikey Payne (4x100m – second)

Silas Pimentel (200m – second/4x100m – second/100m – third)

Clint Silcock (high jump – first)

SECOND-TEAM ALL-WAC (UTAH STATE)

WOMEN

Ashlee Cannon (4x100m – fifth)

Chari Hawkins (100h – fifth/high jump – fifth)

Aubrie Haymore (4x100m – fifth/4x400m – fifth/400m – sixth)

Katelyn Heiner (400m – fourth/4x100m – fifth/4x400m – fifth)

Kylie Hirschi (4x400m – fifth)

Alex Litzsinger (1500m – sixth)

Alexis Meyer (800m – sixth)

Heidi Peterson (400h – fourth/4x400m – fifth)

Amber Thompson (pole vault – fifth)

Bailee Whitworth (100m – fourth/4x100m – fifth)

Hannah Williams (1500m – fourth)

MEN

Nick Bolinder (10,000m – sixth)

AJ Boully (110h – sixth)

Joe Canavan (shot put – fourth)

Aaron Clements (3000sc – fourth/1500m – sixth)

Jon Goble (decathlon – fourth)

Spencer Hall (hammer – fifth)

John Johnson (decathlon – sixth)

Armahd Lewis (100m – fourth/200m – fifth)

Kyle McKenna (5000m – fifth)

Philip Noble (pole vault – fifth)

Mikey Payne (100m – sixth)

Jake Peterson (400h – sixth)

Damian Szade (long jump – fourth/triple jump – fifth)

UTAH STATE RESULTS

WAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

HONOLULU, HAWAI’I

MAY 12 (10 p.m.) – 13 (10 p.m.), 2011

WOMEN TEAM SCORES

1. Louisiana Tech – 152

2. UTAH STATE – 138

3. Nevada – 125.5

4. Fresno State – 92

5. Idaho – 91

6. New Mexico State – 82

7. Boise State – 69

8. Hawai’i – 65.5

MEN TEAM SCORES

1. UTAH STATE – 180

2. Boise State – 169.33

3. Louisiana Tech – 123

4. Fresno State – 89.33

5. Idaho – 85.33

WOMEN’S INDIVIDUAL AWARDS (VOTED UPON BY THE COACHES)

Outstanding Track Performer: Chelsea Hayes, Louisiana Tech

Outstanding Field Performer: J’Quyra Moncur-Blue, Fresno State

Freshman of the Year: Chari Hawkins, Utah State

High Point Award Winner: Chelsea Hayes, Louisiana Tech, 32.5 points

Coach of the Year: Gary Stanley, Louisiana Tech

MEN’S INDIVIDUAL AWARDS (VOTED UPON BY THE COACHES)

Outstanding Track Performers: Trey Hadnot, Louisiana Tech and Jason Holt, Utah State

Outstanding Field Performer: Larry Jones, Louisiana Tech and Rolando Trammel, Boise State

Freshman of the Year: Trey Hadnot, Louisiana Tech

High Point Award Winner: Rolando Trammel, Boise State, 31.83 points

Coach of the Year: Gregg Gensel, Utah State

WOMEN

200m – 3. Bailee Whitworth, 24.11

400h – 3. Kylie Hirschi, 1:00.47; 4. Heidi Peterson, 1:00.57

800m – 6. Alexis Meyer, 2:14.57

5000m – 2. Kim Quinn, 17:04.38; 3. Ruth Hilton, 17:19.46; 7. Hannah Williams, 17:39.24; 8. Alex Litzsinger, 17:43.15; 15. Alicia Wilkins, 18:19.89; 18. Stephanie Burt, 18:32.94; 23. Cherice Chugg, 18:57.13; 24. Alexis Meyer, 19:01.36

4x400m – 5. Utah State, 3:47.27 (Heidi Peterson, Kylie Hirschi, Aubrie Haymore, Katelyn Heiner)

Triple Jump – 15. Daphne Jones, 10.58m (34-08.50)

Pole Vault – 5. Amber Thompson, 3.45m (11-03.75); Rachelle St. Jeor, NH

Shot Put – 3. Spela Hus, 14.11m (46-03.50); 14. Shannon Prince, 11.82m (38-09.50)

MEN

200m – 2. Silas Pimentel, 21.28; 5. Armahd Lewis, 21.60

400h – 1. AJ Boully, 52.56; 6. Jake Peterson, 54.11; 8. Philip Noble, 56.37

800m – 1. Jason Holt, 1:48.78; 2. James Allred, 1:50.29; 7. Mercer Owen, 1:52.60

5000m – 3. Daniel Howell, 14:41.39; 5. Kyle McKenna, 14:47.68; 7. Brian McKenna, 15:02.87; 11. Steven Atkinson, 15:11.72; 12. Nick Bolinder, 15:13.62; 13. Hunter Nelson, 15:21.15; 14. Eric Larson, 15:24.18; 18. Aaron Clements, 15:38.62

4x400m – 3. Utah State, 3:15.30 (AJ Boully, James Allred, Jason Holt, Tanner Hunt)

High Jump – 1. Clint Silcock, 2.08m (6-09.75); 3. Eric Follett, 2.02m (6-07.50); 9. Kenny Hamlett, 1.87m (6-01.50)

Discus – 3. Spencer Hall, 49.24m (161-06)