By: Gabrielle Munoz
SEATTLE, Wash. – The Sun Devil track and field team saw key strong performances during the first day of competition at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Indoor Conference Championships at the University of Washington on Friday.
Redshirt junior Maggie Ewen started off the day with a record-breaking performance, as she set a personal best with a mark of 21.53m (70-7.75). Redshirt freshman Kaylee Antill also stood out against the competition, finishing seventh overall with a final throw for 18.22m (59-9.50).
"It started off well for us with Maggie having a lifetime best in the weight," head coach Greg Kraft said. "Kaylee Antill did a good job in the competition as well. It didn't look like she was going to make it to the finals then on her third throw she was able to get a throw that put her into seventh place. To see a freshman come through and compete like that for us was very good."
Ewen's weight throw victory earned her back-to-back MPSF indoor conference championships in the event.
Junior Shaunie Morrison also hit a career best in the women's 60-meter hurdles prelims with a time of 8.40 to place her sixth overall, thus qualifying for the final event on Saturday. Morrison remains eighth in the Sun Devil indoor record books.
The Sun Devil men also completed their events with competitive numbers, as CJ Albertson placed fourth overall in the 5,000-meter race with a final time of 14:03.44.
CJ's wife, Chelsey, also ran in the 5,000-meter event, crossing the line in fifth out of 30 runners for four points with a time of 16:11.29.
Senior Kyle Long threw for 19.86m (65-2.00) in the weight throw, a second-place mark against the competition.
"Kyle Long and CJ Albertson did a wonderful job for us. I'm really proud of those two guys," Kraft said. "They are two young men that struggled their first year and a half, two years in the program, but they had faith in their ability and their training, and they are really having wonderful senior years."
Senior pole vaulter Garrett Starkey placed third overall, finishing the day at a height of 5.32m (17-5.5). Starkey finished just above redshirt sophomore Matt Eckles, who finished with a height of 5.17m (16-11.5), a personal best.
To add to the competitive environment, the Sun Devils also had their eyes set on gaining a comfortable lead for the two Territorial Cup points up for grabs during the weekend.
"I believe that we have about an 20 point lead on the men and a 21 point lead on the women," Kraft said. "After the first day we are the leading, but I'm not sure what's in store for tomorrow. There will be a punch-counter-punch, and fortunately, we are up double digits because we would have our work cut out for us if we were down double digits. In that regard, we have to be pleased as far as the day went."
The women currently sit in 4th overall with 21 points, while UCLA is in 3rd with 26.33, Colorado is in 2nd with 32 points and USC is in 1st with 51 points.
The ASU men are in 2nd overall with 28 points, which is just four points behind the Bruins of UCLA in 1st.
Competition is set to continue tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. PST. Live stats and viewing will be streamed here.
SEATTLE, Wash. – The Sun Devil track and field team saw key strong performances during the first day of competition at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Indoor Conference Championships at the University of Washington on Friday.
Redshirt junior Maggie Ewen started off the day with a record-breaking performance, as she set a personal best with a mark of 21.53m (70-7.75). Redshirt freshman Kaylee Antill also stood out against the competition, finishing seventh overall with a final throw for 18.22m (59-9.50).
"It started off well for us with Maggie having a lifetime best in the weight," head coach Greg Kraft said. "Kaylee Antill did a good job in the competition as well. It didn't look like she was going to make it to the finals then on her third throw she was able to get a throw that put her into seventh place. To see a freshman come through and compete like that for us was very good."
Ewen's weight throw victory earned her back-to-back MPSF indoor conference championships in the event.
Junior Shaunie Morrison also hit a career best in the women's 60-meter hurdles prelims with a time of 8.40 to place her sixth overall, thus qualifying for the final event on Saturday. Morrison remains eighth in the Sun Devil indoor record books.
The Sun Devil men also completed their events with competitive numbers, as CJ Albertson placed fourth overall in the 5,000-meter race with a final time of 14:03.44.
CJ's wife, Chelsey, also ran in the 5,000-meter event, crossing the line in fifth out of 30 runners for four points with a time of 16:11.29.
Senior Kyle Long threw for 19.86m (65-2.00) in the weight throw, a second-place mark against the competition.
"Kyle Long and CJ Albertson did a wonderful job for us. I'm really proud of those two guys," Kraft said. "They are two young men that struggled their first year and a half, two years in the program, but they had faith in their ability and their training, and they are really having wonderful senior years."
Senior pole vaulter Garrett Starkey placed third overall, finishing the day at a height of 5.32m (17-5.5). Starkey finished just above redshirt sophomore Matt Eckles, who finished with a height of 5.17m (16-11.5), a personal best.
To add to the competitive environment, the Sun Devils also had their eyes set on gaining a comfortable lead for the two Territorial Cup points up for grabs during the weekend.
"I believe that we have about an 20 point lead on the men and a 21 point lead on the women," Kraft said. "After the first day we are the leading, but I'm not sure what's in store for tomorrow. There will be a punch-counter-punch, and fortunately, we are up double digits because we would have our work cut out for us if we were down double digits. In that regard, we have to be pleased as far as the day went."
The women currently sit in 4th overall with 21 points, while UCLA is in 3rd with 26.33, Colorado is in 2nd with 32 points and USC is in 1st with 51 points.
The ASU men are in 2nd overall with 28 points, which is just four points behind the Bruins of UCLA in 1st.
Competition is set to continue tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. PST. Live stats and viewing will be streamed here.