TEMPE, Ariz. – The 38th Annual Sun Angel Classic featured over a field of 4,600 athletes, that included Olympians, All-Americans and record holders from across the country and even world.
But on Saturday evening, it was graduate senior Garrett Starkey that shined for the Sun Devil track and field squad in the men's pole vault, clearing the bar at 5.50m (18-0.50) to leap into second on the ASU all-time list.
On the grander scale, the meet sits in the middle of the outdoor season with just six weeks until the Pac-12 Championships.
"When you look at it, it's like the old Bill Parcells saying, 'You are what your record says you are,'" said head coach Greg Kraft. "With our women, we're searching for people to contribute to the Maggie Ewen, Chelsey Albertson and Keyasia Tibbs. Ashley Weber and Kaylee Antill have made moves towards doing such. We need La Troya Franklin back, and Christine Williford won her heat in the 800.
"With our guys, we have balance, but we have to be able to stay healthy. It's important that we do that. For the men, Kyle Long has been a steady influence for us in the field events. I think Joey Bryant continues to compete well, and that bodes well for us. The star for the men this weekend though was by far Garrett Starkey, who takes the Pac-12 lead with his 18-foot jump."
Starkey's mark not only ranks him atop the conference, but also tied for sixth compared to marks entering the weekend.
All in all, a total of 12 athletes hit new personal bests on the weekend along with Starkey.
Starkey's pole vaulting partner, Jacob Flores, vaulted 4.95m (16-2.75) for a new personal best as well and placing second in the men's open event. His mark was over a foot higher than his previous best.
High jumper Joey Bryant was another raising the bar on Saturday, as he leapt 2.15m (7-0.50) – eclipsing his former personal best of 2.14m (7-0.25). His new clearance ranks him in a tie for 18th nationally.
Elsewhere in the field events, redshirt junior thrower Maggie Ewen hit her third personal best in her third event, as she hit 17.07m (56-0.00) in the shot put.
Her teammate, Ashley Weber, also had quite a performance in the shot put. The senior broke her personal best, which she last set during her freshman season in 2014. Weber hit 15.41m (50-6.50) for first place in the women's open event.
Redshirt freshman Michael Titherington also hit a new personal best in the shot put, tossing a 15.32m (50-3.00).
On the track, freshman Christine Williford was the highlight of the day, as she finished first in her heat with a new personal best time of 2:11.54.
The Devils will turn right around for a big weekend at the Mt. SAC Relays from April 13-15, followed by a dual meet with UCLA on Saturday, April 15.
38th Sun Angel Classic
Joe Selleh Track at Sun Angel Stadium
April 6-8, 2017
Track Events
Men's 200m Dash (Open)
2. Brandon Hasson – 21.38
Women's 200m Dash (Open)
16. Courtnee Oglesby – 26.38*
17. Kendra Purifoye – 26.55
Women's 100m Hurdles (Open)
4. Shaunie Morrison – 13.72
12. Kendra Purifoye – 14.36
Men's 110m Hurdles (Open)
23. Kaodilichi Nwuda – 15.88*
Men's 400m Dash (Premiere)
7. Drelan Bramwell – 46.86
Men's 400m Hurdles (Open)
25. Richard Thiel – 56.81
Women's 400m Hurdles (Open)
19. Brooke Coltelli – 1:05.51
Men's 800m Run
21. Blake Elliott – 1:55.00
25. Kyle Elliott – 1:55.46
Women's 800m Run
7. Christine Williford – 2:11.54*
12. Melese Crozier – 2:13.03
26. Lauren Gavulic – 2:19.18
28. Mia Townsend – 2:19.64
Men's 1500m Run
17. Brandon Boys – 4:05.63
18. Kyle Shinn – 4:06.75
Women's 1500m Run (Open)
13. Courtney Lewis – 4:44.11
14. Megan Reniewicki – 4:45.41*
19. Carissa Diaz – 4:50.32
20. Anna Pruter – 4:51.34*
Women's 1500m Run (Premiere)
6. Alexis Nichols – 4:35.89
Men's 1-Mile Run
9. CJ Albertson – 4:15.64
Field Events
Men's Hammer Throw (Premiere)
2. Kyle Long – 65.43m (214-7.75)
Men's Hammer Throw (Open)
7. Michael Titherington – 52.29m (171-6.50)
Women's Hammer Throw (Premiere)
1.Maggie Ewen – 69.27m (227-3.00)
Women's Hammer Throw (Open)
5. Kaylee Antill – 54.79m (179-9.00)
7. Ashley Weber – 53.43m (175-3.50)
Men's Pole Vault (Open)
2. Jacob Flores – 4.95m (16-2.75)*
4. Matt Eckles – 4.95m (16-2.75)
Men's Pole Vault (Premiere)
4. Garrett Starkey – 5.50m (18-0.50)*
Women's Pole Vault (Open)
6. Athena Masolini – 3.60m (11-9.50)
6. Vanessa Davis – 3.60m (11-9.50)
9. Haleigh Fritts – 3.60m (11-9.50)
Men's High Jump
2. Joey Bryant – 2.15m (7-0.50)*
17. Mason Ford – 1.95m (6-4.75)
Men's Long Jump
2. Joey Bryant – 7.44m (24-4.75)
9. Mason Ford – 7.01m (22-11.75)
Women's Discus (Open)
4. Kaylee Antill – 45.19m (148-3.00)*
Men's Discus Throw (Premiere)
5. Kyle Long – 53.49m (175-5.75)
Women's Discus Throw (Premiere)
2. Maggie Ewen – 56.87m (186-6.75)
Men's Shot Put (Premiere)
2. Tom Anderson – 17.90m (58-8.50)
4. Kyle Long – 17.71m (58-1.00)
Women's Shot Put (Premiere)
2. Maggie Ewen – 17.07m (56-0.00)*
Men's Shot Put (Open)
6. Michael Titherington – 15.32m (50-3.00)*
Women's Shot Put (Open)
1.Ashley Weber – 15.41m (50-6.50)*
7. Courtney McCartney – 14.07m (46-1.75)
Women's Javelin Throw
20. Melanie Johnson – 37.55m (123-2.25)
21. Alyssa Cornell – 37.02m (121-5.25)
But on Saturday evening, it was graduate senior Garrett Starkey that shined for the Sun Devil track and field squad in the men's pole vault, clearing the bar at 5.50m (18-0.50) to leap into second on the ASU all-time list.
On the grander scale, the meet sits in the middle of the outdoor season with just six weeks until the Pac-12 Championships.
"When you look at it, it's like the old Bill Parcells saying, 'You are what your record says you are,'" said head coach Greg Kraft. "With our women, we're searching for people to contribute to the Maggie Ewen, Chelsey Albertson and Keyasia Tibbs. Ashley Weber and Kaylee Antill have made moves towards doing such. We need La Troya Franklin back, and Christine Williford won her heat in the 800.
"With our guys, we have balance, but we have to be able to stay healthy. It's important that we do that. For the men, Kyle Long has been a steady influence for us in the field events. I think Joey Bryant continues to compete well, and that bodes well for us. The star for the men this weekend though was by far Garrett Starkey, who takes the Pac-12 lead with his 18-foot jump."
Starkey's mark not only ranks him atop the conference, but also tied for sixth compared to marks entering the weekend.
All in all, a total of 12 athletes hit new personal bests on the weekend along with Starkey.
Starkey's pole vaulting partner, Jacob Flores, vaulted 4.95m (16-2.75) for a new personal best as well and placing second in the men's open event. His mark was over a foot higher than his previous best.
High jumper Joey Bryant was another raising the bar on Saturday, as he leapt 2.15m (7-0.50) – eclipsing his former personal best of 2.14m (7-0.25). His new clearance ranks him in a tie for 18th nationally.
Elsewhere in the field events, redshirt junior thrower Maggie Ewen hit her third personal best in her third event, as she hit 17.07m (56-0.00) in the shot put.
Her teammate, Ashley Weber, also had quite a performance in the shot put. The senior broke her personal best, which she last set during her freshman season in 2014. Weber hit 15.41m (50-6.50) for first place in the women's open event.
Redshirt freshman Michael Titherington also hit a new personal best in the shot put, tossing a 15.32m (50-3.00).
On the track, freshman Christine Williford was the highlight of the day, as she finished first in her heat with a new personal best time of 2:11.54.
The Devils will turn right around for a big weekend at the Mt. SAC Relays from April 13-15, followed by a dual meet with UCLA on Saturday, April 15.
38th Sun Angel Classic
Joe Selleh Track at Sun Angel Stadium
April 6-8, 2017
Track Events
Men's 200m Dash (Open)
2. Brandon Hasson – 21.38
Women's 200m Dash (Open)
16. Courtnee Oglesby – 26.38*
17. Kendra Purifoye – 26.55
Women's 100m Hurdles (Open)
4. Shaunie Morrison – 13.72
12. Kendra Purifoye – 14.36
Men's 110m Hurdles (Open)
23. Kaodilichi Nwuda – 15.88*
Men's 400m Dash (Premiere)
7. Drelan Bramwell – 46.86
Men's 400m Hurdles (Open)
25. Richard Thiel – 56.81
Women's 400m Hurdles (Open)
19. Brooke Coltelli – 1:05.51
Men's 800m Run
21. Blake Elliott – 1:55.00
25. Kyle Elliott – 1:55.46
Women's 800m Run
7. Christine Williford – 2:11.54*
12. Melese Crozier – 2:13.03
26. Lauren Gavulic – 2:19.18
28. Mia Townsend – 2:19.64
Men's 1500m Run
17. Brandon Boys – 4:05.63
18. Kyle Shinn – 4:06.75
Women's 1500m Run (Open)
13. Courtney Lewis – 4:44.11
14. Megan Reniewicki – 4:45.41*
19. Carissa Diaz – 4:50.32
20. Anna Pruter – 4:51.34*
Women's 1500m Run (Premiere)
6. Alexis Nichols – 4:35.89
Men's 1-Mile Run
9. CJ Albertson – 4:15.64
Field Events
Men's Hammer Throw (Premiere)
2. Kyle Long – 65.43m (214-7.75)
Men's Hammer Throw (Open)
7. Michael Titherington – 52.29m (171-6.50)
Women's Hammer Throw (Premiere)
1.Maggie Ewen – 69.27m (227-3.00)
Women's Hammer Throw (Open)
5. Kaylee Antill – 54.79m (179-9.00)
7. Ashley Weber – 53.43m (175-3.50)
Men's Pole Vault (Open)
2. Jacob Flores – 4.95m (16-2.75)*
4. Matt Eckles – 4.95m (16-2.75)
Men's Pole Vault (Premiere)
4. Garrett Starkey – 5.50m (18-0.50)*
Women's Pole Vault (Open)
6. Athena Masolini – 3.60m (11-9.50)
6. Vanessa Davis – 3.60m (11-9.50)
9. Haleigh Fritts – 3.60m (11-9.50)
Men's High Jump
2. Joey Bryant – 2.15m (7-0.50)*
17. Mason Ford – 1.95m (6-4.75)
Men's Long Jump
2. Joey Bryant – 7.44m (24-4.75)
9. Mason Ford – 7.01m (22-11.75)
Women's Discus (Open)
4. Kaylee Antill – 45.19m (148-3.00)*
Men's Discus Throw (Premiere)
5. Kyle Long – 53.49m (175-5.75)
Women's Discus Throw (Premiere)
2. Maggie Ewen – 56.87m (186-6.75)
Men's Shot Put (Premiere)
2. Tom Anderson – 17.90m (58-8.50)
4. Kyle Long – 17.71m (58-1.00)
Women's Shot Put (Premiere)
2. Maggie Ewen – 17.07m (56-0.00)*
Men's Shot Put (Open)
6. Michael Titherington – 15.32m (50-3.00)*
Women's Shot Put (Open)
1.Ashley Weber – 15.41m (50-6.50)*
7. Courtney McCartney – 14.07m (46-1.75)
Women's Javelin Throw
20. Melanie Johnson – 37.55m (123-2.25)
21. Alyssa Cornell – 37.02m (121-5.25)