MEN’S ATHLETES OF THE WEEK (Jan. 21-27)
Utah State’s Nick Karren and Boise State’s Ryan Grinnell have been named the Western Athletic Conference Men’s Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for the week of Jan. 21-27. This is the second WAC Indoor Athlete of the Week honor for Karren this season and the first career honor for Grinnell. This is the first season that honors for both “Track” and “Field” athletes will be awarded each week.
Karren, a junior from Duchesne, Utah (Duchesne), came away with two victories last weekend, winning the 400-meter dash with a personal best time of 48.66 at the Washington State Cougar Indoor Invitational in Pullman, Wash. Karren also was a member of the winning 4x400-meter relay that posted a league-leading time of 3:17.24. His 400-meter dash mark also currently leads the WAC this season.
Grinnell, a junior from Idaho Falls, Idaho, (Montana), posted the nation’s longest mark in the triple jump with a leap of 53’ 4.50” (16.27m) at the Blue and Orange Classic hosted by Boise State, to earn a NCAA automatic qualifying standard. Grinnell’s jump was also the third-longest in Boise State indoor history and is the Olympic qualifying standard. He also earned a NCAA provisional qualifying standard in the long jump with a mark of 25’ 1.25” (7.65m).
Other Track nominees included: Nick Cunningham of Boise State posted a career-best time in the 200-meter dash (21.88) to finish third at the Blue and Orange Classic ... Paul Dittmer of Idaho turned in a third-place finish in the 60-meter high hurdles (8.19) at the Washington State Cougar Indoor Invitational, which ranks as the second-fastest time in the WAC this season, behind his own time of 8.15 last weekend.
Other Field nominees included: Mike Carpenter of Idaho captured the pole vault event at the Washington State Cougar Indoor Invitational with a mark of 15’ 11”, improving his previous league-leading mark by six inches ... Josef Canavan of Utah State recorded a third-place shot put of 52’ 10” (16.10m), at the Washington State Cougar Indoor Invitational, and was also sixth in the weight throw with a launch of 50’ 6.75” (15.41m), both personal bests.
WOMEN’S ATHLETES OF THE WEEK (Jan. 21-27)
Boise State’s Paige Olivetti and Fresno State’s Sharon Ayala have been named the Western Athletic Conference Women’s Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week for the week of Jan. 21-27. This is the first career WAC Indoor Athlete of the Week honor for both Olivetti and Ayala. This is the first season that honors for both “Track” and “Field” athletes will be awarded each week.
Olivetti, a junior from Reno, Nev., (Wooster), captured the Blue and Orange Classic 400-meter dash title with a personal-best time of 57.03. Her 400-meter mark currently leads the WAC and is nearly a full second improvement over her 2007 season-best time of 57.95. Olivetti also competed in the 200-meter dash and registered a time of 25.78.
Ayala, a junior from Fresno, Calif., (Fresno City College), won the weight throw at the Run for the Dream by a one-foot, seven-inch margin with a best throw of 63’ 9.50” (19.44m). Her throw is the ninth-farthest in the NCAA this season and is also a NCAA provisional qualifying mark. Ayala’s throw is also currently the best in the WAC so far by more than eight feet.
Other Track nominees included: Thalia Amanakis of Hawai’i captured first-place in both the 55-meter hurdles (8.18) and the 800-meter dash (2:20.45) at the Run for the Dream on Jan. 20 ... Roxanne Sellick of Fresno State won the mile run (5:13.60) at the Run for the Dream, and her time currently ranks sixth in the WAC ... Heather Bergland of Idaho improved on her WAC lead in the 60-meter hurdles, taking second among collegiate runners and fourth overall at the Washington State Cougar Indoor Invitational with at time of 8.68 ... Amanda Moreno of Nevada finished second in the 3,000-meter run at the Orange and Blue Classic with a season-best time of 10:17.65, ranking her ninth on the Wolf Pack’s all-time 3,000-meter list ... Leah Benton of New Mexico State recorded two personal best times and etched her name onto two Aggies all-time record lists, clocking a 55-meter dash time of 7.40 and a 200-meter dash time of 25.42 ... Erin Stratton of Utah State won the mile run at the Washington State Cougar Indoor Invitational with a conference leading and personal best time of 4:59.87 and moving into eighth-place all-time on the Utah State mile run ranks.
Other Field nominees included: Eleni Kafourou of Boise State won the triple jump at the Blue and Orange Classic with a NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 42’ 3.50” (12.89m), improving her season-best mark by nearly four inches and threw 4’ 4” further than her nearest competitor ... Alice Draser of Idaho earned a first-place score of 3,388 in her first-ever pentathlon at the Washington State Indoor Invite ... Inger Appanaitis of Nevada recorded two top-five finishes at the Orange and Blue Classic, finishing second overall in the weight throw (16.08m) and fifth-place in the shot put (12.89m) ... Jordan Veney of New Mexico State recorded a lifetime-best launch of 42’ 0.50” in the shot put, increasing her previous best by 20 inches, and placing her second in the New Mexico State all-time record book ... Sonia Grabowska of Utah State won the pole vault Washington State Indoor Invite with a vault of 11’ 11.75” (3.65m).
BOISE STATE’S GRINNELL EARNS NCAA AUTOMATIC QUALIFYING STANDARD ? Junior Bronco jumper Ryan Grinnell earned a trip to the NCAA National Indoor Championships by achieving the longest triple jump of the 2008 indoor track season with an NCAA automatic qualifying standard of 53’ 4.5” (16.27m), on Jan. 26, at the Blue and Orange Classic.
This was the first NCAA automatic qualifying standard achieved by a Bronco this season in any event. Grinnell’s jump also placed him third on the Broncos all-time records list. His mark of 53’ 4.5” (16.27m) is the Olympic qualifying standard in the triple jump. Grinnell also earned an NCAA provisional qualifying standard in the long jump by recording a 25’ 1.25” (7.65m).
FOUR BRONCOS EARN PROVISIONAL STANDARDS ? The Blue and Orange Classic, held at the Idaho Sports Center on Jan. 26, produced four NCAA provisional qualifying standards for the Boise State Broncos.
Junior transfer Savvas Diakonikolas finished second in the long jump, posting a leap of 25’ 5.25” (7.75m), earning a NCAA provisional qualifying standard. His mark was also the second-best in Boise State indoor history. Diakonikolas also finished second and notched another NCAA provisional qualifying standard in the triple jump with a distance of 50’ 11” (15.52m). This was the first competition for Diakonikolas as a member of the Broncos after transferring from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece.
Sophomore Zacharias Arnos was the second Bronco to earn a NCAA provisional qualifying standard when he posted a mark of 50’ 7.50” (15.43m) in the triple jump. Along with teammates Grinnell and Diakonikolas, the Broncos registered the top three places in the event, each also earning NCAA provisional qualifying standards.
Simon Wardhaugh finished first in the 35-pound weight throw, posting a launch of 20.85m, enough to earn an NCAA provisional standard in the event.
On the women’s side, junior Eleni Kafourou posted a season-best leap of 42’ 3.5” (12.89m) in the triple jump to improve her NCAA provisional qualifying mark which she earned at the Jacksons Open, Dec. 1 (41’ 11.25”/12.78m). Kafourou’s mark of 42’ 3.5” won the triple jump at the Blue and Orange Classic and was 4’ 4” better than her nearest competitor.
FRESNO STATE OFF TO SOLID START ? The second annual Run for the Dream kicked off with an exciting four-way women’s collegiate dual meet that featured victories for Fresno State in six events. The Bulldogs were winners over Cal-State Stanislaus and Hawai’i, while Cal Poly defeated Fresno State, Hawai’i and Cal-State Stanislaus.
Rayna White was Fresno State’s first winner of the day. White captured the 55 meter dash title with a time of 7.26. Erica Embry finished fourth with a time of 7.49.
Rosario Sanchez won the shot put on her final throw of 48’ 4.5”. She beat Cal Poly’s Julie Defresne by 2.5 inches. Fresno State’s Lisa Ma’ake took fifth with a mark of 41’ 8”.
In the mile run, Roxanne Sellick turned it on in the final laps to win impressively, finishing with a time of 5:38.02. Briana Cleary took sixth and Sasha Souder finished in seventh for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs posted the top three marks in the weight throw, with Sharon Ayala in first-place with a toss of 63’ 9.5”, Grace Wesimann in second (52’ 2.75”) and Amanda Rollin in third (51’ 7.25”).
HAWAI?I ATHLETES EARN NUMEROUS PERSONAL BESTS ? Members of the Rainbow Wahine track and field team shattered numerous personal bests at the first Sunset Meet, Jan. 26, at Cooke Field in Honolulu. Six personal bests were recorded, including one school record.
Meghan Weaver heaved 51’ 7.25” (15.73m) in the shot put, eclipsing both her own personal and school marks. Weaver’s previous best was 50’ 7” (15.42m), set during the 2006 season.
Senior Mallory Gilbert competed in three events and tied or broke personal marks in each. Gilbert won the high jump and long jump events with leaps of 5’8” (1.75m) and 18’ 9.25” (5.72m), respectively. She also finished fourth in the shot put with a throw of 32’ 2.75” (10.74m).
Junior Thalia Amanakis dominated the sprint and hurdle events with four victories in the 60-meter hurdles (8.60), 60-meter dash (7.50), 300-meter dash (42.30) and 600-meter dash (1:40.30) events.
Sophomore Brittani Daniels-Knox captured the weight throw competition, easily shattering her personal best with a heave of 52’ 3.5” (15.94m), surpassing her old mark by nearly two meters.
In the pole vault, Jessica Cunstance and Samantha Weaver finished one-two as each cleared 12’ 3.5” (3.75m), with Custance clearing the height in fewer attempts. Weaver’s mark was also a personal best.
FOUR VANDALS WIN TITLES AT COUGAR INDOOR INVITATIONAL ? Four Vandals earned individual victories and three others hit personal bests at the Washington State Cougar Indoor Invitational in Pullman, Wash. Sophomore Mike Carpenter cleared a season-high jump of 15’ 11” to win the pole vault by six inches over Washington State’s DJ Brown. His mark is the best in the WAC so far this season. Carpenter also clocked in at 7.10 in the 60-meter dash to take fourth.
Mykael Bothum won the women’s shot put for the second-straight week at Washington State, as she 48’ 2.5” and beat her nearest competition by a comfortable 18-inch margin. Bothum just missed an NCAA provisional qualifying mark for the second-straight week.
Junior Kevin Pabst nailed his final try in the men’s long jump, soaring 23’ 4.5” to overtake Utah State’s Blake Hadfield and win the event by a 14-inch margin.
Freshman Alice Draser led the Vandal charge in the pentathlon, where Idaho athletes took first through fourth against competition from Washington State, Eastern Washington and Utah State. Draser scored 3,388 points to take home the title, while sophomore Darcy Collins came in a close second with 3, 345 points.
NEVADA DISTANCE RUNNERS FIND SUCCESS AT BLUE AND ORANGE CLASSIC ? Members of the Wolf Pack track and field team tallied 20 top-10 finishes at the Blue and Orange Classic hosted by Boise State. Five Nevada runners posted top-10 finishes in the 3,000-meter run, led by Amanda Moreno, who finished second overall (10:17.65). Amanda Gramly (10:26.46) and Janet Martinez (10:33.98) finished third and fourth, respectively. Chelsea Chauvet-Moore took seventh overall (10:58.23) and Tiffany Tandy finished ninth (11:06.13).
In the mile run, Christa Avena recorded third-place honors (5:06.18), while Mandy Russ finished ninth (5:23.96). Polly Smith finished fourth in the 800-meter run (2:19.13), while Avena registered a ninth-place finish (2:23.75).
NEW MEXICO STATE CONTINUES STRONG IN TEXAS ? For the third time this season, the Aggies competed at the Texas Tech Invitational in Lubbock, Texas.
Freshman hurdler Devin Brooks tied her lifetime-best mark in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.21 and placed fifth overall. Sophomore sprinter Leah Benton recorded a season-best in the 55-meter dash, stopping the clock at 7.40, placing her 10th overall and eighth in the all-time Aggie record book. Benton also placed seventh in the 200-meter dash, clocking a time of 25.42.
Sophomore distance runner Precious Nelson placed seventh in both the mile run and the 800-meter run, recording times of 5:26.37 and 2:26.33, respectively.
On the field, sophomore Jordan Veney recorded a mark of 43’ 8.25”, placing her seventh in the shot put, making her second all-time at New Mexico State.
SEVEN AGGIES POST CONFERENCE-LEADING SCORES AT COUGAR INDOOR INVITATIONAL ? Seven members of the Utah State track and field team posted WAC-leading times at the Cougar Indoor Invitational hosted by Washington State on Jan. 25-26. A total of eight Aggies won events during the two-day meet.
Sophomore Erin Stratton won the mile with a conference leading time of 4:59.87, moving her into eighth-place on the USU Women’s Indoor Top 10 list in the mile.
Junior Nick Karren and sophomore Steve Strickland recorded conference leading and personal-best times with their first place finishes in the 400-meter dash and 3,000-meter run with times of 48.66 and 8:25.63 respectively. Strickland moves into sixth-place all-time.
Karren helped fellow Aggies’ Keith Williams, Brandon Waller and James Allred to a first-place victory in the men’s 4x400-meter relay, with a WAC best time of 3:17.24.
Senior Amy Egan set a Cougar Indoor Invitational record in the 800-meter with her first place time of 2:11.95. She also moved into fourth-place on USU Women’s Indoor Top 10 list for the 800-meter, where she also currently holds second place.
WAC CHAMPIONSHIP RETURNS TO BOISE ? The 2008 edition of the WAC Championship returns to Idaho Sports Center and Jacksons Track in Nampa, Idaho. The meet will be held Feb. 28-March 1 with the multi-events on Feb. 28 and 29, and the preliminaries and finals on Feb. 29 and March 1.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP ? The 2008 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship returns to Fayetteville, Ark., March 10-11. The University of Arkansas is hosting the event.
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