SEATTLE, Wash. -- Arizona State redshirt sophomore thrower Magdalyn Ewen was the highlight of day one at the MPSF Indoor Conference Championships with a first-place victory in the women's weight throw.
Ewen's throw of 20.31m (66-07.75) -- her second-best throw of the season -- on just her third attempt held up through the final three throws of the finals to earn her first-ever conference championship.
"It feels great," said Ewen, who came in third in the event during last year's MPSF Championship. "I knew there were a lot of seniors that graduated last year so that would move me up. But we have such a talented conference, I knew there would still be a lot of competition."
While there was a strong field -- one that had Oregon's Brittany Mann, who had the longest throw of the year for the conference -- Ewen made it look easy.
"Maggie dominated the competition with three throws better than the second-place mark," said throwing head coach David Dumble. "The weight throw is still a relatively new event for her, but she had great confidence throughout the competition. I was very proud of her and her first MPSF Championship today."
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Her teammate -- redshirt junior Ashley Weber -- also performed well in the event, placing sixth for the Sun Devils with a throw of 18.74m (61-05.75) for a new personal best.
The rest of the women tallied 10 more points in the 5,000-meter race with redshirt junior Adriana Olivas' fourth-place finish as well as the same by the ASU women's distance medley relay squad -- graduate senior Jen Owen, sophomore Melese Crozier, freshman Hannah Benoit-Bucher and junior Chelsey Totten.
"When you look at the competitive spirit in the 5K, I think Adriana passed at least two, if not three, girls and that picks up a few more points," said head coach Greg Kraft. "Our women are a very young team that isn't very deep, so it's important that you get those wins. But when you look at how the kids competed today, I think with that being the first event and then the DMR (to finish) ... that was a great way to end the day. For our women, I think we were doing what we had hoped we could do."
The women currently sit in a tie for second place with USC entering the final day.
On the men's side, the sprints were highlighted by senior Jamol James, redshirt senior Isaiah Underwood and graduate senior Reggie Lewis. James ran a new personal best and the fastest time of the day with 6.65. Underwood came in second on the day, nipping at James' heels with a 6.68, while Lewis clocked a 6.78.
"For the guys, we have good balance and depth, but we have to hit in bunches," said Kraft. "We put ourself in a good position after having three guys qualify for the men's 60-meter finals."
Throughout the rest of the day and into the night, James, Underwood and Lewis were found laughing and jawing at one another. From the threat of hiding the other's spikes to shoes coming up missing, the three were in their own way motivating each other.
"They look pretty loose and they were talking trash to each other," said Kraft. "It's good nature joking but you have to have confidence to say it and not get your teammate up tight. It's good jawing, not negative in nature. I think it bodes well tomorrow. Reggie said, 'Coach, these guys are my friends until midnight, then it's on.'"
The three compete in the 60-meter finals on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PT (1:30 p.m. MT).
Lewis also helped tack on eight more points for the Sun Devil men after his second-place time in the men's 200-meter dash of 21.42.
Just before that, in the men's 5,000-meter event, redshirt junior C.J. Albertson put himself in the ASU history books with the fifth-fastest time in school history -- and a new personal best -- at 13:58.59.
After day one, the men also sit in a tie with USC, but in sixth with 18 points.
The Territorial Cup race is neck-and-neck on the men's side as the Devils lead 18-17, while the women enter the final day with a commanding lead at 23-3.
The final day of the MPSF Indoor Championships can be streamed on FloTrack.org or you can follow live stats here.
MPSF Indoor Championships Friday, Feb. 26 Seattle, Wash.Field Events
Women's Weight Throw
1. Maggie Ewen - 20.31m (66-07.75)
6. Ashley Weber - 18.74m (61-05.75)
18. Ginger Jarchow - 16.25m (53-03.75)
Men's Weight Throw
11. Kyle Long - 17.43m (57-2.25)
Women's Pole Vault
15. Haleigh Fritts - 3.71m (12-2.00)
16. Kristiana Warth - J3.71m (12-2.00)
Men's Pole Vault
12. Matthew Eckles - 4.98m (16-4.00)
12. Nathan Hiett - 4.98m (16-4.00)
14. Jacob Flores - J4.98m (16-4.00)
22. Dillon Groener - 4.68m (15-04.25)
Women's Long Jump
10. Jessica Barreira - 5.49m (18-00.25)
12. Darreyl Woodson - 5.30m (17-04.75)
-- Keyasia Gibbs
Men's Long Jump
8. Josh Dixon - 7.12m (23-04.50)
-- Tim White
Track Events
Women's 60m Hurdle Prelims
8. Sydney Mosley - 8.59 (Qualified for Finals)
Women's 60m Dash Prelims
11. Jasmine Gibbs - 7.48
Men's 60m Dash Prelims
1. Jamol James - 6.65 (Qualified for Finals)
2. Isaiah Underwood - 6.68 (Qualified for Finals)
6. Reggie Lewis - 6.78 (Qualified for Finals)
15. Ben Trotter - 6.91
Women's 5,000-meter Run
4. Adriana Olivas - 16:35.82
14. Jenna Maack - 16:57.91
Men's 5,000-meter Run
5. C.J. Albertson - 13:58.59
15. Ryan Herson - 14:16.08
30. Riley Wattier - 15:12.53
Women's 200m Dash
14. LaTroya Franklin - 24.59
19. Jasmine Gibbs - 24.82
23. Sierra Irvin - 25.00
Men's 200m Dash
2. Reggie Lewis - 21.42
5. Isaiah Underwood - 21.61
20. Ben Trotter - 22.77
Women's Distance Medley
4. Arizona State - 11:18.40
Men's Distance Medley
8. Arizona State - 10:00.35