TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State track and field program wrapped up the Pac-12 vs. Big Ten Invitational on Saturday evening at Sun Angel Stadium with the Big Ten capturing the conference dual for both the men and women. The meet featured 14 new meet records and one venue record by Indiana's Sydney Clute at 4.55m (14-11.00).
The Big Ten women won 409-312, while the men was a bit closer at 393-327.
"I'm pleased with the progress," said head coach Greg Kraft. "All the athletes have been in heavy training with seven weeks until the Pac-12 Championships. The Sun Angel Classic in two weeks will be when the outdoor season starts in earnest for us."
Senior Kyle Long, redshirt junior Maggie Ewen, junior Kristiana Warth, graduate senior Garrett Starkey and the men's 4x100 and 4x400 relays highlighted the Saturday events.
Long and Ewen both hit new personal bests in the discus throw, with Long placing second at 57.75m (189-5.50) and Ewen winning the event at 59.83m (196-3.50) on her final throw. Long's mark currently ranks 6th in the country, while Ewen's puts her at the top of two national lists along with the hammer throw. The throw by the St. Francis, Minnesota-native also broke the meet record. Long jumped up into 7th all-time on the ASU list.
At the pole vault, Warth and Starkey had big days at the Joe Selleh Track. The junior doubled up on her personal best, clearing the bar at 4.07m (13-4.25) – which ranks 14th nationally. Starkey was a knee cap away from clearing a new personal best at 5.40 (17-8.5). He had three good looks at just clipped the bar with his knee after clearing on his last attempt.
The men's relays put on a show, with the men's 4x100 relay finishing 4th and still clocking a 40.35 with jumper Joey Bryant filling in on the anchor leg in what was his first-ever relay race.
The 4x400 – which featured Herb Polk, Jeremy Wright, Brandon Hasson and Drelan Bramwell – came down to a photo finish between Bramwell and the University of Arizona. Bramwell and Arizona's Zakee Washington were neck-and-neck the entire 400 meters. In the last 30-meters Bramwell just edged out Washington for the win by a head.
"The most important thing you like to do is knock off as many qualifiers for the NCAA first round as possible, so you run 3:07.7, that solidifies that," said men's sprints coach Ronnie Williams. "Like I told the guys last week, we want to defend our home track and we want to continue to win. As long as you keep winning, the competition will dictate the time. We're learning and growing and taking gigantic steps to what we truly think we can be. I was really happy to see the guys come out and execute and get it done."
Another impressive performance came on the track by junior Shaunie Morrison in the women's 100-meter hurdles, as she earned her first Division I outdoor victory with a time of 13.60.
The Sun Devils as a team now turn their focus to the Sun Angel Classic in two weeks at Sun Angel Stadium. The Albertson's – Chelsey and CJ – will compete at the Stanford Invitational next week.
What stood out to Coach Kraft:
"Obviously starting off yesterday with Kyle Long and Maggie Ewen in the hammer throw was a great way to start. Last night it was nice for CJ to go through a training run and for him and Megan Reniewicki to win their 5k events. For the distance program, it was good to get Sam Ortega back. She's been on the shelf for over a year and for a distance kid, the season never ends, so it was good for her to get back because we'll need her in the fall during cross country. Then today, the 4x1 for the guys was a nice run. We had a minor injury this week with Ronny Hall, so Joey Bryant stepped in and anchored the 4x1. I don't even think he ran on the relay in high school. For the second-straight week, Brandon Hasson ran a great third leg in the short relay, ran another good 200, and finished well in the mile relay. Across the board, the men are really stepping up. Garrett Starkey had some really nice attempts today at the vault at 17-9, Kyle Long had a lifetime best in the discus, so overall, the balance and depth the guys have is good. On the women's side, particularly at the national level, Maggie Ewen is really a big star and for her to nearly throw 60 meters today in the discus was tremendous. Melese Crozier has never ran the half mile, and the first time running a 2:12. Shaunie winning the 100 hurdles was another big step. So I'm pleased with the progress. All the athletes have been in heavy training with seven weeks until the Pac-12 Championships. The Sun Angel Classic will be when the outdoor season starts in earnest for us."
Thoughts on the women's team…
"We have some senior leadership missing, and for us to go the first two meets without La Troya Franklin – who has been in the NCAA Championships in both relays – that's a significant loss. We don't have that kind of depth. We've brought Maya Perkins along slowly and she was a girl who ran significant relays in high school. We really need those people as we move towards the Pac-12 Championships, particularly in the sprinting events. When you look at the track, it starts with Chelsey Albertson, who didn't compete this week because she's getting ready for what we think will be a salt on the school record in the 5k next weekend at Stanford. We're making good progress, but we have a lot of ground to make up."
Pac-12 vs. Big Ten Invitational
Joe Selleh Track at Sun Angel Stadium
March 24-25, 2017
Field Events
Men's Discus Throw
2. Kyle Long – 57.75m (189-5.50)*
23. Liam Henshaw – 36.39m (119-4.50)
Women's Discus Throw
1.Maggie Ewen – 59.83m (196-3.50)$*
Men's Pole Vault
1.Garrett Starkey – 5.22m (17-1.50)
5. Liam Henshaw – 4.62m (15-1.75)*
5. Jacob Flores – 4.62m (15-1.75)*
Women's Pole Vault
4. Kristiana Warth – 4.07m (13-4.00)*
13. Haleigh Fritts – 3.72m (12-2.25)
15. Athena Masolini – 3.57m (11-8.50)
Men's Long Jump
5. Joey Bryant – 7.27m (23-10.00)
8. Mason Ford – 7.07m (23-2.25)*
Women's Long Jump
8. Jessica Barreira – 5.55m (18-2.25)
10. Darreyl Woodson – 5.53m (18-1.50)
13. Shaunie Morrison – 5.38m (17-7.75)
Men's High Jump
1.Joey Bryant – 2.10m (6-10.50)
4. Elijah Hughes – 2.05m (6-8.50)
5. Mason Ford – 2.05m (6-8.50)
12. Liam Henshaw – 1.90m (6-2.75)*
Women's High Jump
10. Jessica Barreira – 1.55m (5-1.00)
Men's Shot Put
6. Tom Anderson – 18.02m (59-1.25)
16. Michael Titherington – 14.90m (48-10.50)
Women's Shot Put
6. Ashley Weber – 14.66m (48-1.00)
7. Courtney McCartney – 14.17m (46-5.75)*
Track Events
Men's 110m Hurdles
14. Liam Henshaw – 15.81
15. Kaodilichi Nwuda – 16.07*
17. Richard Thiel – 16.53
Women's 100m Hurdles
1.Shaunie Morrison – 13.60
6. Kendra Purifoye – 14.34*
17. Jessica Barreira – 16.06
Men's 4x100 Relay
4. Arizona State (Bramwell, Polk, Hasson, Bryant) – 40.35
Men's 1,500m Run
19. Kyle Shinn – 4:00.64*
20. Brandon Boys – 4:01.48
24. Nick Dale – 4:14.08
Women's 1,500m Run
11. Alexis Nichols – 4:36.36
15. Brittany Alexander – 4:37.67
23. Carissa Diaz – 4:45.34*
28. Anna Pruter – 4:54.91
Men's 400m Dash
6. Herb Polk – 47.40*
9. Jeremy Wright – 47.67*
Women's 400m Dash
5. Sha'Maya Flanagan – 56.71
Men's 800m Run
19. Kyle Elliott – 1:56.66
Women's 800m Run
7. Christine Williford – 2:12.76*
8. Melese Crozier – 2:12.99*
18. Lauren Gavulic – 2:20.84
Men's 400m Hurdles
14. Richard Thiel – 55.43*
17. Kaodilichi Nwuda – 1:00.60
Women's 400m Hurdles
9. Brooke Coltelli – 1:07.44
Men's 200m Dash
3. Drelan Bramwell – 21.14
5. Brandon Hasson – 21.20
Women's 200m Dash
28. Courtnee Oglesby – 26.59
30. Kendra Purifoye – 26.92
31. Jessica Barreira – 27.40
Women's 3,000m Steeplechase
2. Billie Jo Dytrt – 11:05.71*
3. Courtney Lewis – 11:14.07*
Men's 4x400 Relay
1.Arizona State (Polk, Wright, Hasson, Bramwell) – 3:07.76$
12. Arizona State 'B' (Thiel, Ford, Henshaw, Nwuda) – 3:30.69
Women's 4x400 Relay
5. Arizona State (Crozier, Flanagan, Williford, Oglesby) – 3:51.48
*PERSONAL BEST
$MEET RECORD
The Big Ten women won 409-312, while the men was a bit closer at 393-327.
"I'm pleased with the progress," said head coach Greg Kraft. "All the athletes have been in heavy training with seven weeks until the Pac-12 Championships. The Sun Angel Classic in two weeks will be when the outdoor season starts in earnest for us."
Senior Kyle Long, redshirt junior Maggie Ewen, junior Kristiana Warth, graduate senior Garrett Starkey and the men's 4x100 and 4x400 relays highlighted the Saturday events.
Long and Ewen both hit new personal bests in the discus throw, with Long placing second at 57.75m (189-5.50) and Ewen winning the event at 59.83m (196-3.50) on her final throw. Long's mark currently ranks 6th in the country, while Ewen's puts her at the top of two national lists along with the hammer throw. The throw by the St. Francis, Minnesota-native also broke the meet record. Long jumped up into 7th all-time on the ASU list.
At the pole vault, Warth and Starkey had big days at the Joe Selleh Track. The junior doubled up on her personal best, clearing the bar at 4.07m (13-4.25) – which ranks 14th nationally. Starkey was a knee cap away from clearing a new personal best at 5.40 (17-8.5). He had three good looks at just clipped the bar with his knee after clearing on his last attempt.
The men's relays put on a show, with the men's 4x100 relay finishing 4th and still clocking a 40.35 with jumper Joey Bryant filling in on the anchor leg in what was his first-ever relay race.
The 4x400 – which featured Herb Polk, Jeremy Wright, Brandon Hasson and Drelan Bramwell – came down to a photo finish between Bramwell and the University of Arizona. Bramwell and Arizona's Zakee Washington were neck-and-neck the entire 400 meters. In the last 30-meters Bramwell just edged out Washington for the win by a head.
.@TheSunDevils over the Wildcats by a head in the 4x4! No other way to finish the #Pac12vsBigTen Invite. ???? #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/d2irN1E4bZ
— SunDevilTFXC (@SunDevilTFXC) March 26, 2017
"The most important thing you like to do is knock off as many qualifiers for the NCAA first round as possible, so you run 3:07.7, that solidifies that," said men's sprints coach Ronnie Williams. "Like I told the guys last week, we want to defend our home track and we want to continue to win. As long as you keep winning, the competition will dictate the time. We're learning and growing and taking gigantic steps to what we truly think we can be. I was really happy to see the guys come out and execute and get it done."
Another impressive performance came on the track by junior Shaunie Morrison in the women's 100-meter hurdles, as she earned her first Division I outdoor victory with a time of 13.60.
The Sun Devils as a team now turn their focus to the Sun Angel Classic in two weeks at Sun Angel Stadium. The Albertson's – Chelsey and CJ – will compete at the Stanford Invitational next week.
What stood out to Coach Kraft:
"Obviously starting off yesterday with Kyle Long and Maggie Ewen in the hammer throw was a great way to start. Last night it was nice for CJ to go through a training run and for him and Megan Reniewicki to win their 5k events. For the distance program, it was good to get Sam Ortega back. She's been on the shelf for over a year and for a distance kid, the season never ends, so it was good for her to get back because we'll need her in the fall during cross country. Then today, the 4x1 for the guys was a nice run. We had a minor injury this week with Ronny Hall, so Joey Bryant stepped in and anchored the 4x1. I don't even think he ran on the relay in high school. For the second-straight week, Brandon Hasson ran a great third leg in the short relay, ran another good 200, and finished well in the mile relay. Across the board, the men are really stepping up. Garrett Starkey had some really nice attempts today at the vault at 17-9, Kyle Long had a lifetime best in the discus, so overall, the balance and depth the guys have is good. On the women's side, particularly at the national level, Maggie Ewen is really a big star and for her to nearly throw 60 meters today in the discus was tremendous. Melese Crozier has never ran the half mile, and the first time running a 2:12. Shaunie winning the 100 hurdles was another big step. So I'm pleased with the progress. All the athletes have been in heavy training with seven weeks until the Pac-12 Championships. The Sun Angel Classic will be when the outdoor season starts in earnest for us."
Thoughts on the women's team…
"We have some senior leadership missing, and for us to go the first two meets without La Troya Franklin – who has been in the NCAA Championships in both relays – that's a significant loss. We don't have that kind of depth. We've brought Maya Perkins along slowly and she was a girl who ran significant relays in high school. We really need those people as we move towards the Pac-12 Championships, particularly in the sprinting events. When you look at the track, it starts with Chelsey Albertson, who didn't compete this week because she's getting ready for what we think will be a salt on the school record in the 5k next weekend at Stanford. We're making good progress, but we have a lot of ground to make up."
Pac-12 vs. Big Ten Invitational
Joe Selleh Track at Sun Angel Stadium
March 24-25, 2017
Field Events
Men's Discus Throw
2. Kyle Long – 57.75m (189-5.50)*
23. Liam Henshaw – 36.39m (119-4.50)
Women's Discus Throw
1.Maggie Ewen – 59.83m (196-3.50)$*
Men's Pole Vault
1.Garrett Starkey – 5.22m (17-1.50)
5. Liam Henshaw – 4.62m (15-1.75)*
5. Jacob Flores – 4.62m (15-1.75)*
Women's Pole Vault
4. Kristiana Warth – 4.07m (13-4.00)*
13. Haleigh Fritts – 3.72m (12-2.25)
15. Athena Masolini – 3.57m (11-8.50)
Men's Long Jump
5. Joey Bryant – 7.27m (23-10.00)
8. Mason Ford – 7.07m (23-2.25)*
Women's Long Jump
8. Jessica Barreira – 5.55m (18-2.25)
10. Darreyl Woodson – 5.53m (18-1.50)
13. Shaunie Morrison – 5.38m (17-7.75)
Men's High Jump
1.Joey Bryant – 2.10m (6-10.50)
4. Elijah Hughes – 2.05m (6-8.50)
5. Mason Ford – 2.05m (6-8.50)
12. Liam Henshaw – 1.90m (6-2.75)*
Women's High Jump
10. Jessica Barreira – 1.55m (5-1.00)
Men's Shot Put
6. Tom Anderson – 18.02m (59-1.25)
16. Michael Titherington – 14.90m (48-10.50)
Women's Shot Put
6. Ashley Weber – 14.66m (48-1.00)
7. Courtney McCartney – 14.17m (46-5.75)*
Track Events
Men's 110m Hurdles
14. Liam Henshaw – 15.81
15. Kaodilichi Nwuda – 16.07*
17. Richard Thiel – 16.53
Women's 100m Hurdles
1.Shaunie Morrison – 13.60
6. Kendra Purifoye – 14.34*
17. Jessica Barreira – 16.06
Men's 4x100 Relay
4. Arizona State (Bramwell, Polk, Hasson, Bryant) – 40.35
Men's 1,500m Run
19. Kyle Shinn – 4:00.64*
20. Brandon Boys – 4:01.48
24. Nick Dale – 4:14.08
Women's 1,500m Run
11. Alexis Nichols – 4:36.36
15. Brittany Alexander – 4:37.67
23. Carissa Diaz – 4:45.34*
28. Anna Pruter – 4:54.91
Men's 400m Dash
6. Herb Polk – 47.40*
9. Jeremy Wright – 47.67*
Women's 400m Dash
5. Sha'Maya Flanagan – 56.71
Men's 800m Run
19. Kyle Elliott – 1:56.66
Women's 800m Run
7. Christine Williford – 2:12.76*
8. Melese Crozier – 2:12.99*
18. Lauren Gavulic – 2:20.84
Men's 400m Hurdles
14. Richard Thiel – 55.43*
17. Kaodilichi Nwuda – 1:00.60
Women's 400m Hurdles
9. Brooke Coltelli – 1:07.44
Men's 200m Dash
3. Drelan Bramwell – 21.14
5. Brandon Hasson – 21.20
Women's 200m Dash
28. Courtnee Oglesby – 26.59
30. Kendra Purifoye – 26.92
31. Jessica Barreira – 27.40
Women's 3,000m Steeplechase
2. Billie Jo Dytrt – 11:05.71*
3. Courtney Lewis – 11:14.07*
Men's 4x400 Relay
1.Arizona State (Polk, Wright, Hasson, Bramwell) – 3:07.76$
12. Arizona State 'B' (Thiel, Ford, Henshaw, Nwuda) – 3:30.69
Women's 4x400 Relay
5. Arizona State (Crozier, Flanagan, Williford, Oglesby) – 3:51.48
*PERSONAL BEST
$MEET RECORD