ON TAP IN THE WAC - The 2011 indoor track and field season continues Friday as all eight schools will be in action over the weekend. Boise State, Hawai'i and Utah State will all participate in the Boise State Team Challenge in Nampa, Idaho. Fresno State, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico State and Utah State will all be traveling to Seattle, Wash., for the Husky Classic. Louisiana Tech will be in Fayetteville, Ark., for the Tyson Invitational. New Mexico State also travels to Albuquerque, N.M., for the UNM Team Challenge.
Verizon WAC Women Athletes of the Week (Jan. 31-Feb. 6)
Utah State's Kylie Hirschi and Chari Hawkins have been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Women's Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week, respectively, for the week of Jan. 31-Feb. 6.
Hirschi, a freshman from Sandy, Utah (Brighton HS), set a career best mark in the 800 meters at the New Mexico Classic on Feb. 4-5 in Albuquerque, N.M. Hirschi's altitude adjusted time of 2:14.68 netted her second place in the event, and is currently the best 800m time in the WAC this season. She was also a member of the 4x400 meter relay team that claimed second place with a time of 3:47.08, which is the second-fastest time in the WAC this year.
Hawkins, a freshman from Rexburg, Idaho (Madison HS), had a career-best day in the high jump at the New Mexico Classic. Her career-high leap of 1.73 meters (5 ft., 8 in.) earned her a fourth-place finish in the high jump and also tied her with Hawai'i's Sarah Saddleton for the best jump in the WAC this season.
Other track nominees included: Racquel Jones, Boise State
Other field nominees included: Mele Vaisima, Boise State
Verizon WAC Men Athletes of the Week (Jan. 31-Feb. 6)
Utah State's James Allred and Clint Silcock have been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Men's Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week, respectively, for the week of Jan. 31-Feb. 6.
Allred, a senior from Helena, Mont. (Capital HS), set a career-best mark in the 800-meters at the New Mexico Classic on Feb. 4-5 in Albuquerque, N.M. Allred's altitude adjusted time of 1:50.06 was not only the best time of his career, it was also the best time in the WAC this season in the 800m event.
Silcock, a senior from Salmon, Idaho (Butte HS), remained undefeated in the high jump this season after winning the event at the New Mexico Classic over the weekend. Silcock's leap of 2.24 meters (7 ft., 4.25 in.) set the Utah State school record, edging out Dave Hoffman's record of 2.23m set in 1999. His mark is the best in the WAC this season and it also automatically qualifies him for the NCAA Championships.
Other track nominees included: Rolando Trammel, Boise State
Other field nominees included: Trevor Kraychir, Boise State
Boise State Broncos
The Broncos had had another very successful meet as they hosted the Bronco Open Feb. 5 ... the Bronco men's 4x400-meter relay team of Karrie Butler, Rolando Trammel, Jeff Daw and Manoah Wesson picked up another win, clocking a season-best time of 3:14.98 ... Trammel picked up a second win on the day, running a career-best time of 8.07-seconds in the 60-meter hurdles ... on the women's side, Mele Vaisima remained undefeated in the weight throw this season, winning her fifth-straight meet with a toss of 61 ft., 4 in. ... Racquel Jones also got a win, tying her career-best in the long jump at 19 ft. ... next for the Broncos is the Boise State Team Challenge on Feb. 11-12 in Nampa, Idaho.
Fresno State Bulldogs
The Bulldogs began their season at the New Mexico Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M., over the weekend ... Fresno State was led by Rosario Sanchez, who finished third in the shot put with a WAC-best distance of 50 ft., 0 in. (15.24m) ... freshman Saylah Barserian had a nice opening meet as she finished ninth with a time of 5:11.21 ... Breeauna Thompson finished in eighth place in the 400-meter dash with a time of 56.77 and Latrisha Jordan finished 12th with a time of 57.43 ... the Bulldogs return to action on Feb. 11-12 for the Husky Invitational in Seattle, Wash.
Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine
The Rainbow Wahine competed in the Donnis Thompson Memorial over the weekend ... the meet is part of a six-event all-comer series Hawai'i will host during the indoor and outdoor seasons ... senior Anika Borden set a new personal best in the weight throw competition with a throw of 55 ft., 10 in. (17.02m) ... Ashlee Jimenez set a season-best mark in the 400-meters, clocking in at 59.48 seconds ... next for the Rainbow Wahine is the Boise State Team Challenge on Feb. 11-12 in Nampa, Idaho.
Idaho Vandals
The Vandals competed at the University of Washington Invitational in Seattle, Wash., over the weekend ... senior Eugenio Mannucci led the way once again for the Vandals as he extended his shot put winning streak to three competitions with a season-best toss of 56-3.75 (17.16m) ... sophomore Jeff Aronson took seventh in the long jump with a personal-best 22-3 (6.78m) ... freshman Hannah Kiser posted a career-best 2:16.37 in the 800m ... junior Rendel Jones posted a career best leap of 47-5.25 (14.46m) in the triple jump to place eighth ... Idaho returns to action on Feb. 11-12 for the Husky Invitational in Seattle, Wash.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
The La. Tech men and women leave Jonesboro, Ark., with a dominating performance in the Arkansas State Invitational on Jan. 22 ... senior Chelsea Hayes won the 200m dash (24.80) and long jump (19-7 (5.97m) and set the school record as she won the 55m dash (6.92) ... Quatisha Williams won the triple jump with a mark of 38-7.5 (11.77m) ... on the men's side, Billy Ray Walker won the 55m hurdles with a time of 7.47 ... the men's 4x400m relay team of Josh Goree, Justin Terry, Edward Hadnot and Wade MaGaha also won, running 3:17.05 ... La. Tech doesn't return to action until Feb. 11-12 for the Tyson Invitational hosted by the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.
Nevada Wolf Pack
The Wolf Pack had a nice weekend at the Cherry and Silver Invitational hosted by the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, N.M. ... sophomore Deborah Amoah led the team with a notable mark in the jumps as she finished fifth in the triple jump with a leap of 39 ft., 7 in., which is the best in the WAC this year ... senior Gina Deckard had the Pack's best placing of the day, taking third in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.63 seconds ... the Wolf Pack will return to action at the Husky Classic hosted by the University of Washington in Seattle, Wash., February 11-12.
New Mexico State Aggies
The Aggies had a tough meet at the University of New Mexico Classic and Multi-Event over the weekend in Albuquerque, N.M. ... the Aggies highlights came from senior Amy Arenas, who finished seventh in the 5,000m with a time of 19:55.17 ... the distance medley foursome of Christy Barela, LaSasha Aldredge, Melanie Clay and Samantha Thompson finished third with a time of 12:28.33 ... the Aggies head back to Albuquerque, N.M., Feb. 11-12 for the UNM Team Challenge, while a small group of distance runners will head to Seattle, Wash., for the Husky Classic.
Utah State Aggies
Utah State had another nice meet at the New Mexico Classic in Albuquerque, N.M., over the weekend ... senior James Allred took second in the 800m with a career-best and WAC season-best time of 1:50.06 ... senior high jumper Clint Silcock set a new Utah State record in the indoor high jump with a mark of 7 ft., 4.25 in. (2.24m) ... freshman Chari Hawkins set her new career-best height, 5 ft., 8 in. (1.73m) in the high jump, finishing tied for fourth-place ... fellow freshman Kylie Hirschi claimed second-place in the 800m with a career-best time of 2:14.6 ... Utah State will conclude its indoor regular season at two different meets Feb. 11-12: the Washington Open in Seattle, Wash., and Boise Team Challenge in Boise, Idaho.
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.