EUGENE, Ore. – Day one of the Pac-12 Track & Field Championships featured two champions representing Arizona State, as redshirt junior Maggie Ewen and redshirt sophomore Matt Eckles earned first-time conference championships in their respective events on Saturday at Historic Hayward Field.
Ewen, who is attempting to become the first Sun Devil thrower to ever win three conference titles in the same season, picked up her first with her first-ever Pac-12 victory in the shot put. Eckles pulled the upset of the day, as his clearance of 5.07m (16-7.50) in the pole vault held on for the top spot.
"It feels amazing and is something I've been hoping for and working towards all year," said Ewen of her first shot put conference championship. "It down poured for most of our competition, so having the special shoes coach made for us and having the right mindset – telling myself I know how to throw in the rain and this is nothing – and mentally and physically prepared was so helpful."
"I honestly don't have enough words," said Eckles. "I still hardly believe it. I've been shaking for the last 15 minutes, but it's cloud nine – it's awesome."
In arguably her least prestigious event, Ewen – who entered the meet with the top conference mark this season – ended up being the only athlete to throw at least 17 meters. Last year's Pac-12 Champion Brittany Mann sat second on the performance list entering the meet with a seasonal best just under a foot short of Ewen's.
For Eckles, he entered the meet as some might say an underdog. The towering pole vaulter held the eighth-best mark in the conference this season, but he was on fire to start the day. While many athletes passed on bars in the midst of the windy, rainy weather – not ideal for pole vaulting – Eckles found a groove, clearing four-straight bars with his final being the eventual winner. Oregon's Cole Walsh also cleared the same height, but missed on his first attempt, ultimately being the difference between him and Eckles.
Teammate Garrett Starkey placed sixth for the Devils, earning crucial points towards the standings and Territorial Cup® race.
Earlier in the afternoon, senior thrower Kyle Long got the Devils started with six points in the men's hammer throw. In the rain, Long hit 64.03m (210-01) for third place in the field of 19. Later, in the shot put, he would pick up another point with an eighth-place finish – overtaking an Arizona thrower on his final throw by half an inch.
In the first track event of the day, the men's 4x100 relay qualified for the final on Sunday, finishing fourth overall and taking second in their heat with a time of 40.56. The men's counterpart, the women, finished seventh overall and qualified for the final as well.
One of the women's and one of the men's 4x100 competitors also qualified for a Sunday final in another individual event. Junior Shaunie Morrison ran the fourth-fastest 100-meter hurdle time at 13.42, while fellow junior and fellow College of the Sequoias transfer Drelan Bramwell qualified in the men's 200-meter dash with the eighth-best time at 21.17.
One of the other few scorers for the Devils on Saturday was senior CJ Albertson. The 2017 Pac-12 Male Scholar Athlete of the Year finished third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 8:49.53 and his best-ever Pac-12 finish.
His wife and teammate Chelsey Albertson also helped pick up a point for the women, placing eighth in the women's 10,000-meter event – which was also the very first time she's ever raced in a 10k during her four-year collegiate career.
Back in the field events, redshirt sophomore Joey Bryant and freshman Elijah Hughes earned points for the men with a sixth-place and eighth-place finish, respectively.
Through six scored women's events out of 21, the Devils sit in eighth place overall with 15 points, while Arizona has earned one point and is in 12th place. On the men's side, ASU is in sixth with 32 points through nine of 21 events, while Arizona is in ninth with 20 points.
The season-long Territorial Cup® could be decided on Sunday if one program captures both points.
Pac-12 Championships
May 13-14, 2017
Historic Hayward Field
Saturday Field Events
Men's Hammer Throw
3. Kyle Long – 64.03m (210-01)
15. Michael Titherington – 52.48m (172-02)
Men's Long Jump
11. Joey Bryant – 6.88m (22-07)
12. Liam Henshaw – 6.87m (22-6.50)
Men's Pole Vault
1.Matt Eckles – 5.07m (16-7.50)
6. Garrett Starkey – 4.87m (15-11.75)
--Jacob Flores – NH
Men's Shot Put
8. Kyle Long – 17.79m (58-4.50)
12. Tom Anderson – 17.02m (55-10.25)
Women's Shot Put
1.Maggie Ewen – 17.18m (56-4.50)
11. Ashley Weber – 14.30m (46-11.00)
Women's Long Jump
5. Keyasia Tibbs – 5.87m (19-3.25)
9. Shaunie Morrison – 5.76m (18-10.75)
Women's Javelin Throw
19. Melanie Johnson – 38.11m (125-00)
Men's High Jump
6. Joey Bryant – 2.05m (6-8.75)
8. Elijah Hughes – 2.05m (6-8.75)
Saturday Track Events
Men's 4x100 Relay Prelim
4. Arizona State (Bramwell, Polk, Hasson, Wright) – 40.56Q
Women's 4x100 Relay Prelim
7. Arizona State (Morrison, Franklin, Oglesby, Flanagan) – 47.10q
Women's 1500m Prelim
17. Alexis Nichols – 4:32.25
Women's 100m Hurdles Prelim
4. Shaunie Morrison – 13.42Q
Men's 400m Dash Prelim
8. Jeremy Wright – 47.74
17. Herb Polk – 49.75
Men's 100m Dash Prelim
9. Drelan Bramwell – 10.52
15. Brandon Hasson – 10.76
Men's 800m Run Prelim
14. Blake Elliott – 1:54.01
Women's 800m Run Prelim
11. Melese Crozier – 2:09.57
14. Christine Williford – 2:09.94
Men's 3k Steeplechase
3. CJ Albertson – 8:49.53
Women's 3k Steeplechase
13. Courtney Lewis – 11:06.13
14. Billie Jo Dytrt – 11:08.82
Men's 200m Dash Prelim
8. Drelan Bramwell – 21.17Q
10. Brandon Hasson – 21.34
Women's 10k Run
8. Chelsey Albertson – 34:01.68
18. Jenna Maack – 35:47.17
Ewen, who is attempting to become the first Sun Devil thrower to ever win three conference titles in the same season, picked up her first with her first-ever Pac-12 victory in the shot put. Eckles pulled the upset of the day, as his clearance of 5.07m (16-7.50) in the pole vault held on for the top spot.
"It feels amazing and is something I've been hoping for and working towards all year," said Ewen of her first shot put conference championship. "It down poured for most of our competition, so having the special shoes coach made for us and having the right mindset – telling myself I know how to throw in the rain and this is nothing – and mentally and physically prepared was so helpful."
"I honestly don't have enough words," said Eckles. "I still hardly believe it. I've been shaking for the last 15 minutes, but it's cloud nine – it's awesome."
In arguably her least prestigious event, Ewen – who entered the meet with the top conference mark this season – ended up being the only athlete to throw at least 17 meters. Last year's Pac-12 Champion Brittany Mann sat second on the performance list entering the meet with a seasonal best just under a foot short of Ewen's.
Was a little rain going to stop @SunDevilTFXC's @MagdalynMaeEwen? ??
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) May 14, 2017
NO. WAY. pic.twitter.com/d0rC4G80l9
For Eckles, he entered the meet as some might say an underdog. The towering pole vaulter held the eighth-best mark in the conference this season, but he was on fire to start the day. While many athletes passed on bars in the midst of the windy, rainy weather – not ideal for pole vaulting – Eckles found a groove, clearing four-straight bars with his final being the eventual winner. Oregon's Cole Walsh also cleared the same height, but missed on his first attempt, ultimately being the difference between him and Eckles.
.@ma_rECKLESs_tt won his first EVER #Pac12TF title today!
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) May 14, 2017
He has nothing but love and gratitude for @SunDevilTFXC and his family. pic.twitter.com/sEVXQf7lpG
Teammate Garrett Starkey placed sixth for the Devils, earning crucial points towards the standings and Territorial Cup® race.
Earlier in the afternoon, senior thrower Kyle Long got the Devils started with six points in the men's hammer throw. In the rain, Long hit 64.03m (210-01) for third place in the field of 19. Later, in the shot put, he would pick up another point with an eighth-place finish – overtaking an Arizona thrower on his final throw by half an inch.
In the first track event of the day, the men's 4x100 relay qualified for the final on Sunday, finishing fourth overall and taking second in their heat with a time of 40.56. The men's counterpart, the women, finished seventh overall and qualified for the final as well.
One of the women's and one of the men's 4x100 competitors also qualified for a Sunday final in another individual event. Junior Shaunie Morrison ran the fourth-fastest 100-meter hurdle time at 13.42, while fellow junior and fellow College of the Sequoias transfer Drelan Bramwell qualified in the men's 200-meter dash with the eighth-best time at 21.17.
One of the other few scorers for the Devils on Saturday was senior CJ Albertson. The 2017 Pac-12 Male Scholar Athlete of the Year finished third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 8:49.53 and his best-ever Pac-12 finish.
His wife and teammate Chelsey Albertson also helped pick up a point for the women, placing eighth in the women's 10,000-meter event – which was also the very first time she's ever raced in a 10k during her four-year collegiate career.
Back in the field events, redshirt sophomore Joey Bryant and freshman Elijah Hughes earned points for the men with a sixth-place and eighth-place finish, respectively.
Through six scored women's events out of 21, the Devils sit in eighth place overall with 15 points, while Arizona has earned one point and is in 12th place. On the men's side, ASU is in sixth with 32 points through nine of 21 events, while Arizona is in ninth with 20 points.
The season-long Territorial Cup® could be decided on Sunday if one program captures both points.
Pac-12 Championships
May 13-14, 2017
Historic Hayward Field
Saturday Field Events
Men's Hammer Throw
3. Kyle Long – 64.03m (210-01)
15. Michael Titherington – 52.48m (172-02)
Men's Long Jump
11. Joey Bryant – 6.88m (22-07)
12. Liam Henshaw – 6.87m (22-6.50)
Men's Pole Vault
1.Matt Eckles – 5.07m (16-7.50)
6. Garrett Starkey – 4.87m (15-11.75)
--Jacob Flores – NH
Men's Shot Put
8. Kyle Long – 17.79m (58-4.50)
12. Tom Anderson – 17.02m (55-10.25)
Women's Shot Put
1.Maggie Ewen – 17.18m (56-4.50)
11. Ashley Weber – 14.30m (46-11.00)
Women's Long Jump
5. Keyasia Tibbs – 5.87m (19-3.25)
9. Shaunie Morrison – 5.76m (18-10.75)
Women's Javelin Throw
19. Melanie Johnson – 38.11m (125-00)
Men's High Jump
6. Joey Bryant – 2.05m (6-8.75)
8. Elijah Hughes – 2.05m (6-8.75)
Saturday Track Events
Men's 4x100 Relay Prelim
4. Arizona State (Bramwell, Polk, Hasson, Wright) – 40.56Q
Women's 4x100 Relay Prelim
7. Arizona State (Morrison, Franklin, Oglesby, Flanagan) – 47.10q
Women's 1500m Prelim
17. Alexis Nichols – 4:32.25
Women's 100m Hurdles Prelim
4. Shaunie Morrison – 13.42Q
Men's 400m Dash Prelim
8. Jeremy Wright – 47.74
17. Herb Polk – 49.75
Men's 100m Dash Prelim
9. Drelan Bramwell – 10.52
15. Brandon Hasson – 10.76
Men's 800m Run Prelim
14. Blake Elliott – 1:54.01
Women's 800m Run Prelim
11. Melese Crozier – 2:09.57
14. Christine Williford – 2:09.94
Men's 3k Steeplechase
3. CJ Albertson – 8:49.53
Women's 3k Steeplechase
13. Courtney Lewis – 11:06.13
14. Billie Jo Dytrt – 11:08.82
Men's 200m Dash Prelim
8. Drelan Bramwell – 21.17Q
10. Brandon Hasson – 21.34
Women's 10k Run
8. Chelsey Albertson – 34:01.68
18. Jenna Maack – 35:47.17