ON TAP IN THE WAC - The 2011 indoor track and field season continues this weekend as two teams will finish out the indoor regular season in anticipation for the WAC Championships that take place Feb. 24-26 in Nampa, Idaho. Hawai'i will host the Terry Albritton Memorial on Feb. 19 in Honolulu, Hawai'i. Idaho will travel to Pullman, Wash., to participate in the Cougar Open on Feb. 19.
Verizon WAC Women Athletes of the Week (Feb. 7-13)
Louisiana Tech's Chelsea Hayes and Tiana Davis have been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Women's Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week, respectively, for the week of Feb. 7-13.
Hayes, a senior from New Orleans, La. (Butler County CC), had a great showing against top collegiate competition at the Tyson Invitational Feb. 11-12 in Fayetteville, Ark. Hayes took 18th-palce in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.39 seconds, as she competed against athletes from conferences such as the SEC, ACC, Pac-10, Big 12 and Big Ten. Hayes' time of 7.39 is a new school record and was only five-hundredths of a second away from breaking the WAC all-time record of 7.34, held by Monica Twam of TCU, set in 2001. Her time in the 60m is the best in the WAC this season and is also the 29th best time in the nation. Hayes also ran in the 200-meters where she finished 38th with a time of 24.47, which was .17 off her WAC-leading time of 24.30 this season.
Davis, a senior from Kansas City, Mo. (Barton County CC), set a personal-best record in the long jump over the weekend at the Tyson Invitational. Davis finished in second place in the event against some of the top collegiate competition in the country with a leap of 20 ft., 2.5 in. (6.16m). Her mark is nearly six inches better than any other WAC jumper has posted this season. Davis now ranks second all-time in Louisiana Tech history in the event and currently holds the 23rd-best leap in the nation. Her 23rd overall ranking is the highest ranking any WAC female athlete holds in any event this season on the national list.
Other track nominees included: Mackenzie Flannigan, Boise State; Breeaunna Thompson, Fresno State; Ashley Aitken, Hawai'i; Hannah Kiser, Idaho; Samantha Diaz, Nevada; Camille Schultz, New Mexico State; Ruth Hilton, Utah State.
Other field nominees included: Mele Vaisima, Boise State; Meagan Mckee, Fresno State; Madara Apine, Hawai'i; Gabby Midles, Idaho; Cortney Beasley, Nevada; Jndia Cleveland, New Mexico State; Sonia Grabowska, Utah State
Verizon WAC Men Athletes of the Week (Feb. 7-13)
Utah State's Daniel Howell and Louisiana Tech's Jonathan Keys have been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Men's Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week, respectively, for the week of Feb. 7-13.
Howell, a junior from Manti, Utah (Manti HS), had a career day against some of the nation's best athletes from conferences such as the SEC, ACC, Pac-10, Big 12 and Big Ten at the Husky Classic on Feb. 11 in Seattle, Wash. Howell set the Utah State school record in the 5,000-meters, crossing the finish line at 14:11.62, good enough for 40th-place out of 88 runners. His time is the new high mark for the event in the WAC this season, as it is more than 40 seconds better than any other WAC competitor's time.
Keys, a junior from Baton Rouge, La. (Catholic HS), excelled against top collegiate competition from conferences such as the SEC, ACC, Pac-10, Big 12 and Big Ten at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., Feb. 11-12. Keys recorded the third-best triple jump in Louisiana Tech school history with a leap of 50 ft., 4 in., as he finished in second place in the event. Keys recorded the best triple jump mark in the WAC this season and is currently ranked 48th in the nation in the event.
Other track nominees included: Rolando Trammel, Boise State; Jeff Osborn, Idaho; Matt Wolfe, Louisiana Tech
Other field nominees included: Eetu Viitala, Boise State; Jeremy Klas, Idaho; Clint Silcock, Utah State
Boise State Broncos
The Broncos had another nice meet as they participated in the Boise State Team Challenge on Feb. 11-12 in Nampa, Idaho ... the men's team captured seven event wins, highlighted by Eetu Viitala winning the long jump, Manoah Wesson winning the 400-meter dash, Brian Pierre earning his second-straight 3000-meter title and Trevor Kraychir winning his fifth weight throw title of the season ... for the women, Mele Vaisima earned her sixth-straight win in the weight throw, while also earning her first shot put title of the season, and Racquel Jones earned the long jump title, her fourth overall ... the Broncos next host the WAC Indoor Championships in Nampa, Idaho, Feb. 24-26.
Fresno State Bulldogs
The Bulldogs were productive over the weekend as they competed in the Husky Classic and UW Indoor in Seattle, Wash. ... on the track, sophomore Breeauna Thompson won the 400-meter event, crossing the finish line with a time of 55.79 ... the 4X400m relay team of Thompson, Tiera Hilliard, Taylor Jackson and Latrisha Jordan finished fifth with a time of 3:48.93 ... freshman Megan McKee had a toss of 60 ft., 1.75 in. (18.33m) in the weight throw event, claiming sixth place ... Rosario Sanchez had another strong performance, earning third place in the shot put with a throw of 48-10.75 (14.9m) ... Fresno State looks ahead to the WAC Indoor Championships in Nampa, Idaho, Feb. 24-26.
Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine
The Rainbow Wahine had some good performances at the Boise State Team Challenge in Nampa, Idaho, Feb. 11-12 ... Ashley Aitken captured first place in the 800-meter run at 2:15.57, while teammate Ashlee Jimenez set a personal best with a time of 2:18.99, netting her sixth place in the event ... Madara Apine won the triple jump with a mark of 39 ft., 7 in. (12.06m) while also placing sixth in the long jump at 17 ft., 4.75 in. (5.30m) ... Hawai'i looks ahead to the WAC Indoor Championships in Nampa, Idaho, Feb. 24-26.
Idaho Vandals
The Vandals competed at the Husky Classic and UW Indoor Open over the weekend in Seattle, Wash. ... junior Jeremy Klas recorded a mark of 17 ft., 7 in. (5.36m) in the pole vault and senior Eugenio Mannucci nabbed himself another win in the men's shot put with a throw of 58-1.25 (17.71m) ... Klas is now ranked seventh nationally in the pole vault while Mannucci moved to 33rd in the shot put ... both men lead the WAC in their respective events ... on the women's side, freshman Hannah Kiser ran a career-best 4:52.30 in the mile and also recorded a conference-leading 9:43.41 to win the 3000m ... Idaho's final tune-up will be at the Cougar Open in Pullman, Wash., Feb. 19.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
The La. Tech men's and women's teams had an impressive showing at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., over the weekend ... on the men's side, the distance medley relay team of Alwayne Green, Wade MaGaha, Jermaine Morris and Matt Wolfe set a new school record with a time of 9:56.98 ... in the triple jump, Jonathan Keys fell short of a personal-best mark by half an inch as he jumped 50-4 to finish second overall at the meet ... Keys' leap is the top mark in the WAC this season ... on the women's side, Chelsea Hayes continued to excel as she ran a personal-best time of 24.47 in the 200m. La. Tech returns to the track Feb. 24-26 for the WAC Indoor Championships.
Nevada Wolf Pack
The Wolf Pack competed at the Husky Classic and UW Indoor Open over the weekend in Seattle, Wash. ... Nevada was led by Samantha Diaz, who turned in the best finish of the weekend from the distance events, as she set the top time in the WAC this season in the mile run at 4:45.79 ... her time is the second-best all-time in Nevada school history ... Cortney Beasley made her impression in the high jump as she tied the top mark in the WAC season with a leap of 5 ft., 8 in. (1.73m) ... Nevada next gears up for the WAC Indoor Championships held in Nampa, Idaho, Feb. 24-26.
New Mexico State Aggies
The Aggies broke a few school records over the weekend at the Husky Invitational and UW Indoor Classic located in Seattle, Wash. ... sophomore Camille Schultz broke the school record in the 5,000m after running the race in a time of 17:10.60, breaking the previous record by 25 seconds ... Schultz sister Courtney Schultz was right behind her as she finished in 17:10.81, placing her second all-time ... sophomore Samantha Thompson broke her own school record in the mile run, posting a time of 5:00.72 ... Jndia Cleveland also broke her own school record in the 60m hurdles, finishing with a time of 8.65 ... the Aggies next meet is the WAC Indoor Championships Feb. 24-26 in Nampa, Idaho.
Utah State Aggies
Utah State performed well in both the UW Indoor Open in Seattle, Wash., and Boise State Team Challenge in Nampa, Idaho, over the weekend ... junior Ruth Hilton stood out as she broke the Utah State school record in the 3,000m, finishing with a season-best time of 9:47.48 ... fellow junior Daniel Howell, also broke a school record in the men's 5000m with a WAC-best time of 14:11.62 ... senior Clint Silcock won his fifth high jump title of the season clearing 7-02.25 (2.19m) ... senior Armahd Lewis also finished in first place, recording a career-best and WAC season-best time in the 60m (6.79) ... Utah State returns to Nampa, Idaho, Feb. 24-26, for the WAC Indoor Championships.
WAC CHAMPIONSHIP RETURNS TO BOISE - The 2011 edition of the WAC Indoor Track and Field Championship returns to Idaho Sports Center and Jacksons Track in Nampa, Idaho, for the eighth-straight year. The meet will be held Feb. 24-26. Championship details, as well as WAC Indoor Track and Field news, records and award information is available at www.wacsports.com.
2011 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP - The 2011 Men's and Women's Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships will be held at the Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M University is hosting the event. For ticket information, call 1 (888) 992-4443, or visit www.aggieathletics.com.