June 24, 2007
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Two more members of the Arizona State University track and field program punched their tickets to the IAAF World Athletics Championships after placing among the Top 3 Sunday on the final day of events at the 2007 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships held in Indianapolis, Ind.
Aaron Aguayo and Sarah Stevens each punched their tickets on Sunday to Osaka, Japan, the site of the IAAF meet that will be held August 24 through September 2, and brought the overall total to four athletes with ties to the program who will represent the U.S. at the IAAF event.
Aguayo, who placed third in the nation at the NCAA Championships two weeks ago, clocked a school-record time of 8:27.01 to finish second overall in the 3,000m steeplechase in Indianapolis to earn a world berth by placing among the Top 3. Teammate Kyle Alcorn placed 12th in the same race in 8:48.34.
Stevens, the 2007 NCAA Indoor shot put champion and third-place finisher outdoors, recorded a mark of 18.02m (59-01.50) to place third overall and earn her berth into the world meet. In the same event, teammate Jessica Pressley, who finished third indoors and won the NCAA title outdoors two weeks ago, placed fourth with a mark of 17.57m (57-07.75).
Latosha Wallace competed in the finals of the women's 400m hurdles and clocked a time of 56.92 to place sixth overall in the meet. The final competitor with ASU ties was April Kubishta, who recorded no height in the women's pole vault final.
Along with Aguayo and Stevens, former Sun Devils Dwight Phillips and Trevell Quinley will also compete in Osaka. Phillips is the defending Olympic Gold Medalist in the long jump and won the U.S. title two days ago while Quinley, one of the up-and-coming talents in the long jump for the U.S., recently placed third in the event. Based on other commitments, a few other Sun Devils could find their ways onto the world team, including Pressley and Lisa Galaviz (Aguilera) who placed fourth in the shot put and 3,000m steeplechase, respectively.
Other Sun Devils could find their ways onto international teams later this summer as the U.S. will field a Pan-Am Games squad as well as other teams that will compete in dual meets with other nations. Those athlete rosters will be announced at a later date.
2007 USA Track & Field Championships
Sunday Results
Men's 3,000m Steeplechase - Final
2. Aaron Aguayo - 8:27.01
12. Kyle Alcorn - 8:48.34
Women's Shot Put - Final
3. Sarah Stevens - 18.02m (59-01.50)
4. Jessica Pressley - 17.57m (57-07.75)
Women's 400m Hurdles - Final
6. Latosha Wallace - 56.92
Women's Pole Vault - Final
-. April Kubishta - no height