Pullman, Wash.—Arizona State track and field’s junior Shelby Houlihan became the first Sun Devil female to double at the conference meet since 2009 as she won the 1500m and 5000m races at the 2014 Pac-12 Track and Field Championships on Sunday at Washington State’s Mooberry Track and Field Complex.
Houlihan defended her title in the 1500m as she finished in 4:15.67, and then set a new personal best in the 5000m with a come-from-behind finish at 16:11.63. The time, which narrowly edged Stanford’s Aisling Cuffe’s finish at 16:11.97, is the new No. 7 time in the ASU record book.
“I was actually not expecting that in the 5K,” Houlihan said. “I knew I could place so I just went out there to do that, but it went out pretty slow and I felt really good. With about two miles to go it felt great. Then Aisling (Cuffe, Stanford) took the lead and I thought, “I just have to hang on her and I’ll be okay.” I managed to squeeze out that last 100 meters, but it was tough.”
Prior to Houlihan’s double, Sarah Stevens picked up a pair of titles in the shot put and discus in the 2009 Pac-10 meet.
“Being a double champion in our conference in the distance events, in any event, is quite a feat,” women’s distance coach Ryan Cole said. “I think we expected Shelby to be in the mix in the 1500m, but more importantly, she showed a lot of heart coming back for her team, grinding out and beating the third-fastest collegiate 5000m runner in the history of our sport. That was just simply amazing. It was a great weekend for Shelby and for all of our girls, and I can say we’re very proud of them.”
As a team, the ASU women finished in a tie for third with Stanford with 75 points, while the men’s team finished in fourth with 80.75 points. The women’s side also secured a Territorial Cup series point, which ASU clinched via men’s golf on April 27. Both men’s and women’s teams mirrored their 2013 finishes at the Pac-12s.
“Everybody who scored and contributed for our team did a really good job today, especially when you look at how close the team scores are,” Cole added. “Beating our in state rival by a point and tying Stanford for third is pretty impressive.”
ASU's title on the men’s side came as the men’s 4x400m relay team of Keith Cleveland, Will Henry, Devan Spann, and Daveon Collins held off Oregon to finish at 3:07.10. This marks the second time in two years that the Sun Devils won a relay at the conference meet as ASU won the 4x100m relay in 2013.
Spann added another nine points for the men’s side as he took fourth in the 200m dash finals at 20.92, and fifth in the 100m dash finals at 10.53. Redshirt senior Ryan Milus also ran in the finals of the 100m and 200m, picking up 11 points with a second and sixth-place finish, respectively.
The duo of Cleveland and Henry added five team points with their sixth and seventh place finish, respectively, in the 400m dash, while junior Brianna Tate placed sixth on the women’s side at 53.77 for three team points.
Freshman LaTroya Franklin scored two points in the 200m dash finals with her finish at 23.92, and fellow freshman Micha Auzenne set a new personal best in the 100m hurdles with her finish at 13.64 for seventh overall, and two team points. Senior Sarah Geren added two more points with her seventh-place finish in the 400m hurdles at 59.22.
On the men’s side of the hurdles, junior Cameron Taylor set a new personal best in the 110m hurdles with a finish at 14.00.
In the field, junior Bryan McBride placed second in the high jump with a clearance of 2.22m (7-3.25) for eight points, while Edmond Baker added a half a point as he finished in a tie for eighth at 2.06m (6-9.00).
Sophomore Josh Dixon added eight more points with a runner-up finish in the triple jump as he recorded a best of 15.59m (51-1.75) on his fifth try.
On the women’s side of the field events, senior Shaylah Simpson grabbed four points as she placed fifth with a clearance of 3.98m (13-0.75).
Redshirt junior Alex Hartig threw a personal best as she led ASU in the discus competition with a throw of 54.84m (179-11) for third and six points. Redshirt senior Anna Jelmini added four more points with her fifth-place finish at 54.41m (178-06).
In the women’s hammer competition, junior Jessika Byrd threw 59.35m (194-08) for seventh and two points.
Up next, the Sun Devil throwers will compete in the Tucson Elite Classic on May 22-24, while the athletes who qualify for the NCAA Preliminary meet—athletes with marks in the top-48 in the west—will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., May 29-21.
Women’s Results
Women’s Team Scores
1. Oregon - 176
2. USC – 145
3. Arizona State – 75
3. Stanford – 75
5. Arizona – 74
6. UCLA – 68
7. Washington – 53
8. Washington State – 46.50
9. California – 44.50
10. Colorado – 33
11. Utah – 23
12. Oregon State 2
Women’s 200m Dash Finals
7. LaTroya Franklin – 23.92 – 2 points
Women’s 400m Dash Finals
6. Brianna Tate – 53.77 – 3 points
Women’s 1500m Run Finals
1. Shelby Houlihan – 4:15.67 – 10 points,
11. Payton Schutte – 4:34.64
Women’s 5000m Run Finals
1. Shelby Houlihan – 16:11.63 – 10 points
11. Chiara Warner – 16:45.39
20. Chelsey Totten – 17:12.99
Women’s 100m Hurdles Finals
7. Micha Auzenne – 13.64 – 2 points
Women’s 400m Hurdles Finals
7. Sarah Geren – 59.55 – 2 points
Women’s 4x100m Relay Finals
4. ASU (Asiah Gooden, Brianna Tate, Alycia Herring, LaTroya Franklin) – 44.82
Women’s 4x400m Relay Finals
3. ASU - 3:36.99 (Sara McDonald, LaTroya Franklin, Sarah Geren, Brianna Tate)– 6 points
Women’s Pole Vault Finals
5. Shaylah Simpson – 3.98m (13-0.75) – 4 points
16. Andrea Kemmerrer – 3.68m (12-0.75)
Women’s Discus Throw Finals
3. Alex Hartig – 54.84m (179-11) – 6 points
5. Anna Jelmini – 54.41m (178-06) – 4 points
9. Ginger Jarchow – 45.29m (148-07)
Women’s Hammer Throw Finals
7. Jessika Byrd – 59.35m (194-08) – 2 points
9. Ashley Weber – 55.14m (180-11)
13. Ginger Jarchow – 50.95m (167-2)
Men’s Results
Men’s Team Scores
1. Oregon – 163.25
2. USC – 99
3. Arizona – 83
4. Arizona State – 80.75
5. Washington 75-25
6. Stanford – 71
7. UCLA – 68.25
8. California – 67
9. Washington State – 66.50
10. Colorado - 44
Men’s 100m Dash Finals
2. Ryan Milus – 10.44 – 8 points
5. Devan Spann – 10.53 – 4 points
Men’s 200m Dash Finals
4. Devan Spann – 20.92 – 5 points
6. Ryan Milus – 21.09 – 3 points
Men’s 400m Dash Finals
6. Keith Cleveland – 46.74 – 3 points
7. Will Henry – 47.01 – 2 points
Men’s 5000m Run Finals
14. Ryan Herson – 14:30.23
19. Garrett Seawell – 14:41.69
21. Bernie Montoya – 14:47.29
22. Steven Schnieders – 14:47.84
26. Garrett Baker-Slama – 15:08.62
Men’s 110m Hurdles Finals
4. Cameron Taylor – 14.00 – 5 points, new personal best, previous 14.02
Men’s 4x400m Relay Finals
1. ASU – 3:07.10 (Keith Cleveland, Will Henry Devan Spann, Daveon Collins) – 10 points
Men’s High Jump Finals
2. Bryan McBride – 2.22m (7-3.25) – 8 points
8. Edmond Baker – 2.06m (6-9.00) – .5 point
Men’s Triple Jump Finals
2. Josh Dixon – 15.59m (51-1.75) – 8 points
11. Jordan Benesh – 13.85m (45-5.25)
Men’s Discus Throw Finals
10. Kyle Long – 51.05m (167-06)
16. Nathan Estes – 45.57m (149-06)
17. Thomas Anderson – 43.94m (144-02)