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Weekly Indoor Notes.pdf 2003 Top Performances.pdf

2003 WAC INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP
The Nevada women and the SMU men take home the 2003 Western Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field crowns, earning 127.5 and 147 points, respectively. Finishing in second place for the men was Rice with 139 points, followed by defending champion, UTEP (116.5), Boise State (92), Fresno State (80.5), Louisiana Tech (44) and Tulsa (39). For the women, Rice earned runner-up honors with 120 points, while UTEP (93), SMU (80), Louisiana Tech (71), Tulsa (62), Fresno State (53), Boise State (43.5) and Hawaii (10) round out the womens side.

In the Championships first event, both Rices Ryan Harlan and Nevadas Erin Kelly defended their pentathlon titles. Harlan earned his fourth-straight title, garnering a WAC record 4,058 points, while Kelly earned 3,932 points topping her 3,858 from last season.

Janne Vartia of UTEP defended his 35lb. weight title, leading off the evening with a throw of 20.05m (65-9 1/2). In second was Joe Vasquez of Fresno State, reaching a mark of 19.42m (68-3 3/4). Grabbing bronze for the mens weight throw was SMUs Oleksander Lutsenko with a throw of 19.32m (63-4 3/4). In the womens triple jump, Zivile Pukstiene earned top honors after leading the WAC all season, clearing a WAC Championship record and NCAA automatic qualifying mark of 13.33m (43-9) for the first SMU gold of the championship. In second was fellow Mustang, LaVada Hill who jummped 12.62m (41-5), while Louisiana Techs Ayanna Alexander grabbed third (12.55m).

The womens pole vault was decided at the 3.82m (12-6 1/4) mark with, a Fresno State duo tying. Lexine Lesser earned top honors over Bergann Hernandez with less misses at the last height awarded. In third, was both Sadie Sweet of Boise State and Beth Hinshaw of Rice, who tied at 3.67m (12-0 1/2).

Ruta Rakstyte of SMU improved on her second-place performance from last season in the shot put, grabbing a gold with a throw of 15.95m (52-4). In second was Louisiana Techs Tawanna Williams who capped off a stellar indoor season with a heave of 15.69m, with fellow Techster Mariela Guante earning a mark of 15.04m. The three were the only to clear 15 meters.

The finals of the womens 5,000 came down to the final second, with UTEPs Adriana Pirtea edging Rika Reuth of SMU by a time of 17:17.69 to 17:18.42. Summer Bell of Rice grabbed the bronze, posting a time of 17:33.43. In the mens 5,000 meters, SMUs Mindi Pukstas distanced himself from the pack early, finishing strong with a time of 14:27.18. In second place was UTEPs Dirk de Heer who edged Steve Greenwell of SMU, by a time of 14:37.02 and 14:38.72.

The long jump had five men clearing 7.00 meters with Vaughan Walwyn of Rice taking gold, provisionally qualifying for NCAAs with a distance of 7.68m (25-2 1/2), successfully defending his 2002 title. In second was fellow Owl, Tommy Olesky posting a mark of 7.37m, with Boise States Kendrick Johnson jumping 7.13m for third.

In the first relay of the championship, Nevada won the distance-medley pulling away on the final straight away, posting a time of 11:59.39, a new WAC Championship record (12:00.20). Grabbing second was Rice, earning a time of 12:02.31. In third was Tulsa crossing at 12:04.06, with Fresno State (12:18.24), UTEP (12:26.85), Boise State (12:43.31) and Hawaii (12:46.96) rounding out the field. The SMU mens distance-medley relay team, which is ranked sixth be the Dandy Dozen, ran away with the gold medal, posting a time of 10:00.48. In second was 2002 champion, Fresno State, earning a time of 10:03.69. The bronze was handed to Rice, who edged Louisiana Tech, 10:05.10 to 10:06.42.

In the womens mile, 2002 WAC Champion, Corine van Beek of UTEP, grabbed the first gold medal of the day, taking home the title in a run-away time of 4:49.94. Rices Megan Sandler fought off Rika Reuth of SMU to take home second, posting a time of 4:56.07. Reuths time of 4:56.53 was enough to hold off Kara June of Fresno State, who had the top time in the WAC in the mile all season. In the mens mile, SMUs Dalibor Balgac and Martin Allgeyer fought for the last 100 meters, with Balgac pulling away and taking home the gold, crossing at 4:11.27. Allgeyer picked up the silver, posting a time of 4:12.19 helping the Mustangs pickup 18 quick points on the day. Bashir Ibrahim of UTEP, the 2002 WAC champion, grabbed third with a time of 4:13.08.

The womens 60-meter hurdles was decided by .01 of a second, with Nevada finishing one-two. Chanika Corley of Nevada edged her teammate, Allison Sewell, 8.58 to 8.59. Rice grabbed third and fourth, with Tiane Burke posting a time of 8.66, while fellow Owl Funmi Jimoh crossed at 8.73. Ryan Harlan defended his title from a year ago, posting a time of 7.92 for his second gold medal of the championship (pentathlon). In second was Tulsas Devonne Harrison who edged Ben Wiggins of Rice, 8.17 to 8.18.

The womens 20lb. weight throw was the first field event awarded on the day, giving Boise States Abbey Elsberry the gold. Her heave of 19.32m (63-4 3/4) is both a season-best and an NCAA automatic mark. Elsberry was second in this event last season. In second was fellow Bronco, Charlene Hawthorne who had a heave of 18.13m. Grabbing the bronze was Nevadas Janine Bodo who earned a mark of 16.56m.

Allison Beckford of Rice became the first-ever womens WAC indoor track and field athlete to win four-straight years in one event, when she posted a time of 53.97 in the 400 meters, taking home the 2003 crown. Taking second and picking up the silver, was Tulsas Jamese James who edged UTEPs Lucyann Richards by .20 seconds, earning a time of 55.00.

Boise States Ray Ardill successfully defended his 400-meter title from 2002, posting the fastest time in the WAC this season, a school-record 47.24. In second was Ben Wiggins of Rice who registered a time of 48.19 with Richard Petty finishing third, recording a time of 48.24.
The womens long jump went to SMUs LaVada Hill who cleared 6.15m (20-2 1/4) to better her second-place performance from last year. Rounding out the medalist was Louisiana Techs Ayanna Alexander and Sara Gelin, who marked distances of 5.89m and 5.67m, respectivley.

The mens pole vault was decided at 5.08m (16-8), when Russell Weaver of Fresno State cleared the mark. David Jacobs and Ryan Harlan of Rice grabbed silver and bronze, crossing the bar at 4.75m (tiebreaker went to Jacobs).

The 60 meters was won by UTEPs Taiwo Ajibade who earned a mark of 6.76. In second was Kevin Garrett of SMU (6.81) with Boise States Francis Ngapout (6.87) taking the bronze. The womens was decided by . 03 seconds, with Rices Nina Mayes bringing home gold. Louisiana Techs Shandra Freeman took silver (7.51), while UTEPs Olatunde Okusanya was third (7.56).

In the womens 800 meters, Jose van der Veen of UTEP claimed a new Jackson Track record, posting a time of 2:08.74. Taking home the silver was Nicole McRae of Nevada (2:09.01), with fellow Wolf Pack Julie Hinton grabbing third (2:09.37). Adam Davis of Rice defended his title, setting a new WAC Championship record, earning at time of 1:49.92 in the 800 meters. In second was Daniel Pessing of Rice with a time 1:50.11, while Fresno States Roosevelt Cook was third (1:51.52).

UTEPs Olatunde Okusanya picked up the 200 meters title with a NCAA provisional mark at 23.84. Grabbing the silver was Allison Beckford of Rice (24.24), with third going to Paula Richardson of Tulsa (24.27). Boise States Ray Ardill picked up his second gold of the championship, posting a time of 21.23 in the 200 meter. Second went to Taiwo Ajibade of UTEP (21.31), while third place went to Boise States Francis Ngapout (21.39).

Adriana Pirtea of UTEP picked up another distance title, posting a WAC record time of 9:45.39 in the 3,000 meters. Following Pirtea was Hawaiis Victoria Chang (9:52.66) and Sarah Haskins of Tulsa (10:04.89). Mindi Pukstas lost a late lead to Dalibor Balgac who finished two seconds ahead of his teammate. Balgac posted an 8:16.10, while Pukstas crossed at 8:18.37. Bringing home the sweep was fellow Mustang Martin Allgeyer who earned a time of 8:21.68.

Closing out the championship was the 4x400 meter relays with Rice taking home the both titles. The women posted a time of 3:40.40, while the men registered a mark of 3:12.78.

2003 WAC HONORS
Women
Freshman of the Year: Olatunde Okusanya, UTEP
High Point Award: Allison Beckford, Rice
Outstanding Performer: Allison Beckford, Rice
Coach of the Year: Curt Kraft, Nevada

Men
Freshman of the Year: Gerardo Carrasco, UTEP
High Point Award: Ryan Harlan, Rice
Co-Outstanding Performers: Dalibor Balgac, SMU; Ray Ardill, Boise State
Coach of the Year: Dave Wollman, SMU

BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS
There were seven mens and three womens championship who successfully defended their titles from 2002.
Men
Ryan Harlan, Rice, 60-Meter Hurdles
Ray Ardill, Boise State, 400 meters
Adam Davis, Rice, 800 meters
Rice, 4x400 Meter Relay
Russell Weaver, Fresno State, Pole Vault
Janne Vartia, UTEP, lb. Weight Throw
Ryan Harlan, Rice, Pentathlon (4x)

Women
Allison Beckford, Rice, 400 meters (4x)
Corine van Beek, UTEP, Mile
Erin Kelly, Nevada, Pentathlon

4x-fourth-straight season

TRACKWIRE POLL - The Trackwire 25 projects a hypothetical score for the NCAA meet, factoring in injury reports and other variables supported by information gathered from coaches and NCAA-qualfying competitions across the country. This projection is generated by scoring the Dandy Dozen, a power ranking of the top 12 athletes and relay squads in each NCAA event.

The factors used to build the D12 include quantitative values that measure performances in past major competitions (such as conference championships, national championships and Olympic competition), durability and freedom from injuries, demonstrated ability to compete well in multiple rounds of competition, ability in other events, head-to-head competition with other top athletes, and personal or seasonal bests.