SEATTLE, Wash. -- The Arizona State track and field program won both Territorial Cup points over the University of Arizona at the MPSF Indoor Conference Championships on Saturday, Feb. 27.
The men won by double digits 59-43 while the women clinched with just one event to go, 43-42.
"Our goal is always to be top three in the conference and top 10 in the NCAA meet, but the Territorial Cup is always the first step," said Sun Devil Director of Track and Field Greg Kraft "We're 4-0 this year and we were 6-0 last year, so I think that bodes well for our department retaining the Territorial Cup."
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Twenty five of the men's 59 points were scored in the men's 60-meter dash, as senior Jamol James picked up ten points with a first-place finish at 6.70. His teammates -- redshirt senior Isaiah Underwood and graduate senior Reggie Lewis -- were right on his heels at 6.721 and 6.723 respectively to give the Sun Devils the 1-2-3 sweep.
"I think one time we talk about all the time is don't be properly focused, be solution driven," said sprints head coach Ronnie Williams. "Those guys knew for us to come here and do well, collectively, they were going to have to step up. We thought we had the ability to run well and the guys collectively came together and supported one another. They came in locked in."
In the men's triple jump, redshirt junior Tim White both surprised everyone and scared them at the same time. On his first jump, he leaped so far that he nearly jumped out of the back of the box. A miscalculation by the event staff put the jump line too close to the box, leading White to nearly land on the wood-lined boarder.
Despite the odd circumstance, White went on to take second place with a jump of 16.13m (52-11.00), while his teammate Josh Dixon followed in third with a leap of 15.73m (51-07.25).
Kraft thinks his initial jump, which was not counted due to the circumstances, was very close to the winning mark of 16.31m (53-06.25) if not better.
Just prior to the men's event, junior Keyasia Tibbs also placed second in the triple jump with a new personal best of 12.92m (42-04.75) -- also breaking the ASU record held by herself. Her eight points gave the Sun Devils an 11-point lead over the Wildcats with one event to go, and would turn out to be the clinching event for the women's Territorial Cup point.
Two other women that played a huge role in getting ASU to that point were redshirt sophomore Maggie Ewen and graduate senior Jen Owen.
After taking first place in the women's weight throw on Friday, Ewen came back on Saturday seeking another victory in the shot put. While she may not have gotten what she desired, her perseverance and clutch performance played a part in the women's success.
After fouling on her first two attempts, she had to just put a throw in play to advance to the finals. Ewen did so and moved on, where she tossed a 16.85m (55-03.50) on her fifth throw for a second-place finish and eight points. It became a new personal best for Ewen and qualified her for the NCAA indoor Championships with the 14th-best throw in the country.
On the track, Owen could also be looked upon as the Sun Devil women's saving grace in the 1-mile event. With just 60 meters to go, Owen was behind Arizona's Claire Green in seventh. At the 40-meter mark, Owen made a move and passed Green down the home stretch, earning three instead of two points.
"It seemed inconsequential at the time -- Jen was sixth and Claire was seventh and they both ran lifetime bests. We beat them by one point, but if Claire beats her we lose by one point."
Overall, Kraft and the coaches were pleased with the team's performance and how they outperformed the "dope sheet". A dope sheet shows each athlete in their respective events ranked by their personal bests and entry marks.
"One of the things as a coach that you look at where your team stacks up is called the dope sheet," said Kraft. "When you exceed the dope sheet, that shows that your team competes well and exceeds expectations, and we did that.
"We're not doing cartwheels over the weekend but I think we hit our average benchmark. We're three months away from coming back up here for the Pac-12 Outdoor Championships. In our sport, that's the one you really remember, so that's what we're building on. If they had some disappointment, it's important to turn the page and get ready for outdoors because it starts tomorrow."
White and Ewen will represent the Sun Devils at the NCAA Indoor Championships, and will travel to Birmingham, Ala. to compete in the triple jump and shot put, respectively, on either Friday, March 11 or Saturday, March 12.
ASU's outdoor season begins at Sun Angel on Friday, March 18 for the Baldy Castillo Invitational.
MPSF Indoor Championships Feb. 26-27, 2016 Seattle, Wash.Saturday Field Events
Women's Shot Put
2. Maggie Ewen - 16.85m (55-03.50)
11. Ashley Weber - 14.60m (47-11.00)
Men's Shot Put
8. Thomas Anderson - 18.32m (60-01.25)
13. Ahmed Hassan - 17.35m (56-11.25)
19. Kyle Long - 16.97m (55-08.25)
Women's Triple Jump
2. Keyasia Tibbs - 12.92m (42-04.75)
15. Jessica Barreira - 11.67m (38-03.50)
17. Darreyl Woodson - 11.58m (38-0.00)
Men's Triple Jump
2. Tim White - 16.13m (52-11.00)
3. Josh Dixon - 15.73m (51-07.25)
Men's High Jump
15. Mason Ford - J2.00m (6-06.75)
Saturday Track Events
Men's 60m Dash
1. Jamol James - 6.70
2. Isaiah Underwood - 6.73 (6.721)
3. Reggie Lewis - 6.73 (6.723)
Women's 60m Hurdles
8. Sydney Mosley - 8.71
Women's 1-Mile Run
6. Jen Owen - 4:43.20
Men's 1-Mile Run
16. Cody Brazeal - 4:09.84
Women's 400m Dash
8. Sierra Irvin - 55.39
15. Melese Crozier - 55.91
Men's 400m Dash
17. Brandon Hasson - 48.67
Women's 800m Run
20. Hannah Benoit-Bucher - 2:13.28
Men's 800m Run
16. Trevor Landry - 1:52.99
17. Michael Julian - 1:53.05
21. Kyle Elliott - 1:53.93
Women's 3,000m Run
11. Chelsey Totten - 9:25.85
16. Adriana Olivas - 9:33.13
Men's 3,000m Run
7. C.J. Albertson - 7:59.83
21. Ryan Herson - 8:14.62
26. J.P. Nelson - 8:20.83
32. Daniel Wong - 8:26.69
37. Riley Wattier - 9:04.72
Women's 4x400 Relay
11. Arizona State - 3:50.30
Men's 4x400 Relay
10. Arizona State - 3:16.20
Friday 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