TEMPE -- Through the first day of the 2nd annual Pac-12 vs. Big Ten Challenge, the Arizona State track and field program contributed 20 points to the men's 62-point total while the women compiled 14 of the 44 conference points.
The Pac-12 men currently hold a 62-55 lead while the Big Ten women lead 73-44 after sweeping the javelin for 39 points.
In the men's javelin, freshman Hudson Keffer took the stage for the Sun Devils and put on another show with a second-place finish. His throw of 69.33m (227-05) picked up eight points for ASU and the Pac-12.
"He's obviously trained very well as we've prepared for outdoor season, and for him to come back and throw a 69-meter throw for the second-straight meet is really good," said throwing coach David Dumble. "His average throw today was better than his high school throw, so I think he's learning a lot about his new throw, rhythm and approach feels like. Today was a very beneficial day especially when he struggled a little bit and was still able to hit that 69-meter throw."
Also helping out the conference in the field events was redshirt sophomore Maggie Ewen in the women's hammer throw. On her final throw, she overtook the eventual winner Laura Schroeder of Indiana. Schroeder answered on her last and the last throw of the event, giving Ewen eight points and second place.
"She has a whole new mindset this year," said Dumble. "We talked about it after last year's NCAA's, letting her know she belongs in this meet and you are this caliber thrower. She's starting to believe it, practice like that and compete like that. I think we're going to see some exciting things the next couple weeks from her."
Her teammate and redshirt junior Ashley Weber helped tack on another six points coming in third place in the hammer throw as well with a toss of 56.04m (183-10).
On the track, the two conferences went head to head in just the 5,000-meter run. The Devils did not have any women run in the event, but five men competed in the longest event of the weekend.
Junior Bernie Montoya ran in his first 5K event in nearly two years and kept pace with the front of the 16-man field for a fourth-place finish with a time of 14:35.31.
"The last two months have been just sort of reconnecting with his training," said distance coach Louie Quintana. "He's been super consistent and running a lot of miles -- just getting back to the basics. Him and I meet often outside of practice and just get to the core of everything. Not to get guru about it, but we've gotten down to the basics of everything. 14:35 isn't going to wow anybody, but it's still a good run and it was about the way he competed. I just wanted him to feel it out again.
Montoya is in the return year from at one point being told he could not run anymore due to having hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick. That didn't stop Montoya from getting multiple opinions and making his way back to the sport he loves.
"He's just had a rough patch, which every athlete goes through," said Quintana. "But we still have a lot of time in his career to move forward and have some fantastic moments. This is just the start. He's excited and it's nothing more than that. If he continues to do that, then not only will the times come but the places, the accolades, the championships and competing for those All-American certificates -- all of those will be there in time."
Day two kicks off at 2:30 p.m. PT with the women's discus. The track events will start at 6:20 p.m. PT with the women's 100-meter hurdles.
Live results can be followed on the Finished Results app.
2nd Annual Pac-12 vs. Big Ten Invitational Sun Angel Stadium Tempe, Ariz. March 25-26Friday Field
Women's Hammer Throw
2. Maggie Ewen - 62.24m (204-02)
3. Ashley Weber - 56.04m (183-10)
Men's Hammer Throw
6. Kyle Long - 59.93m (196-07)
Men's Javelin
2. Hudson Keffer - 69.33m (227-05)
Women's Javelin
9. Melanie Johnson - 41.07m (134-09)
10. Jessica Barreira - 40.20m (131-10)
11. Ginger Jarchow - 39.61m (129-11)
Friday Track
Men's 5K
4. Bernie Montoya - 14:35.31
6. Ryan Norton - 14:42.10
8. John Reniewicki - 14:51.25
11. Nick Dale - 15:20.46
12. Riley Wattier - 15:23.77