SEATTLE, Wash.—Arizona State track and field swept third and earned a pair of Territorial Cup Series points as competition wrapped on Saturday at the MPSF Indoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Washington’s Dempsey Indoor.
“I think this is one of the trademarks of our program in the past, that when we come to an event like this, sometimes we’re undervalued, but today I think both the men and the women exceeded the original expectations,” Director of Track and Field Greg Kraft said. “For our team to walk away with a pair of thirds, I told the athletes it was a wonderful indoor season in how we progressed.”
The ASU men earned 70 points, while the women earned 69.33, and the Sun Devils each earned a Territorial Cup Series point over Pac-12 rival Arizona as the Wildcat women finished seventh and the men finished ninth. ASU now leads in the series, 6.5-3.5. USC won the women’s team title with 111 points while Oregon claimed the men’s with 95 points.
Five Sun Devils won event titles on Saturday, each earning 10 team points: senior Brianna Tate (400m dash), senior Shelby Houlihan (800m run), sophomore Keyasia Tibbs (triple jump), senior Cameron Taylor (60m hurdles), and redshirt senior Bryan McBride (high jump).
McBride led the way for ASU, combining for 25 points on the weekend.
“One of the pet peeves I’ve always had is that it takes champions to win championships, and obviously Shelby Houlihan demonstrated that in spades, as did Brianna Tate, and that’s critical for us,” Kraft said. “Bryan McBride came off an injury and stepped up big for us with a lifetime best in the long jump, winning the high jump, and scoring points in the triple jump. Cameron Taylor running 7.73 in the hurdles is huge, and Devan Spann competed really well. We have a number of champions today, Keyasia Tibbs transferred in and won the triple jump, so it’s always good to see your kids take a title here. It bodes very well for the outdoor season and I think we’ve made a lot of progress from where we started back in January.”
Tate set a new personal best as she ran 52.68, which remains No. 3 in the school indoor record book, while Houlihan ran 2:04.95 in her race, which is just off her indoor personal best and school record of 2:04.94, which she ran in 2013. Also for the women’s winners, Tibbs jumped the winning distance of 12.47m on her first attempt.
For the men, Taylor ran under 7.80 in the hurdles for the first time in his career, finishing at 7.73, which remains at No. 2 in the record book and just behind Tony Galaviz’s (2002) school record time of 7.71 (altitude adjusted).
McBride tied his indoor PR, which is also a school record, as he cleared 2.26m (7-5.00), and also made tries at 2.31m, which would be a new best for both indoor and outdoor competition. Additionally, McBride placed fourth in the triple jump with a personal best 15.38m (50-5.50), which remains at No. 10 in the indoor record book and earned five team points.
Also for the Sun Devils, senior Sara McDonald set a new best in the 400m dash with 54.42, and earned a team point with her eighth, while freshman Melese Crozier also set a new best with her time of 54.90.
Redshirt senior Devan Spann moved up to No. 5 in the record book with his performance in the 60m dash, running 6.66 for third and six team points.
In the women’s 3000m, senior Shaina Corbin set a new personal best as she ran 9:45.21, while redshirt junior Daniel Wong also set a new best time as he ran 8:16.27 in the men’s race. Sophomore Cody Brazeal also set a new personal best, winning his section of the mile run in 4:09.90.
Junior Josh Dixon added four points to the men’s team total as he placed fifth in the triple jump at 15.36m (50-4.75).
In the women’s shot put, redshirt freshman Magdalyn Ewen set a personal best as she threw 16.08m (52-9.25), which earned eight team points and is the new No. 6 in the indoor record book. Redshirt senior Alex Hartig placed fourth, throwing 15.48m (50-9.50), for five team points.
On the men’s side, redshirt sophomore Thomas Anderson placed third with his throw of 18.84m (61-9.75), earning six points, and was followed by junior Ahmed Hassan, who threw a personal best 1853 (60-9.50), for fourth and five points. Redshirt senior Kyle Lillie also set a new personal best as he threw 18.49m (69-8.00) for fifth overall.
Ahmed’s mark is the new No. 9 in the indoor record book, while Lillie’s now sits as the new No. 10.
Up next, the Sun Devils who place in the top-16 nationally in their respective events will qualify to compete at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, March 13-14, in Fayetteville, Ark.
Quotes:
More from Director of Track and Field Greg Kraft
“I was really happy and I think it speaks to the opportunities we have at the NCAA Championships when we have our leaders have a chance to compete. We also have our walk-ons like Michael Julian and Trevor Landry, who have come in here and really made an impact on our program.”
Throws Coach David Dumble
“Today was outstanding. We really competed well, the throwers did a really phenomenal job. One thing we talked about for this meet was about competing, maybe not worrying about throwing a personal best, but to compete, and I thought they really did a great job with that. For us to score so many points and help the team to third place was really great. The men’s shot put was probably the highlight of the throwing events with three guys throwing over 60 feet. It’s a great accomplishment for our program, especially when two of the throwers are walk-ons. It shows how talented our team is for such a young squad. With some more work over these next few months, I think they can do even better things for the outdoor season.”
Redshirt senior Bryan McBride
“Today I felt really good. Coming into the high jump, I was relaxed, not thinking about nationals, just taking it one jump at a time. I tied my indoor PR today, and you can’t ask for much more than that. Now I get to get ready for the indoor NCAAs in the high jump and long jump. Triple jump went well, I scored some points for the team, so that’s all I can ask for. It was a good day, and hopefully I can do well in two weeks.”
Senior Cameron Taylor
“Today was a good day. I ran a PR at 7.73 to win, and I feel great about that. It’s been a long time coming, getting into the 7.70s, I’ve been training hard, trying to stay healthy. Now we head to nationals, and it’s time to put more work in for these two weeks to prepare.
Senior Shelby Houlihan
“I was really happy with today. Going out in the 800m was a little bit of a shock to the system, but I competed well and ran fast, so I’m happy with it.”
Team Results
Women
1. USC - 111
2. Oregon -89
3. Arizona State – 69.33
4. UCLA – 62
5. Stanford – 52
6. Washington – 51
7. Arizona – 48.50
8. Washington State – 36
9. Colorado – 31
10. BYU – 30.33
11. California – 30
12. Long Beach State – 13
13. Cal State Northridge – 9
14. Hawaii – 8.33
15. Portland – 6
16. Utah/Oregon State – 5
18. Cal State Fullerton – 2.50
Men
1. Oregon - 95
2. USC – 88.50
3. Arizona State – 70
4. UCLA – 65.50
5. BYU – 64.50
6. Stanford – 61.50
7. Washington – 54.50
8. California – 53
9. Arizona – 37
10. Washington State – 24.50
11. Colorado – 24
12. Long Beach State – 21
13. Portland – 3
14. Cal State Northridge - 1
Arizona State Results
Women’s 400m Dash
1. Brianna Tate – 52.68 (10 points, PR, remains No. 3 in ASU record book)
8. Sara McDonald – 54.42 (1 point, PR)
12. Melese Crozier – 54.90 (PR)
31. Kiera Bulluck – 57.54
Women’s 800m Run
1. Shelby Houlihan – 2:04.95 (10 points, just off own school record of 2:04.94)
30. Paisley Pettway – 2:15.45
Women’s 3000m Run
26. Shaina Corbin – 9:45.21 (PR)
31. Cristina Juan Torres – 9:47.83
34. Chelsey Totten – 9:50.70
42. Payton Schutte – 10:05.72
Women’s 4x400m Relay
2. McDonald, Crozier, Franklin, Tate – 3:36.32 (8 points)
Women’s Triple Jump
1. Keyasia Tibbs – 12.47m (40-11.00) (10 points)
26. Darreyl Woodson – 11.14m (36-6.75)
Women’s Shot Put
2. Magdalyn Ewen – 16.08m (52-9.25) (8 points, PR, No. 6 in ASU indoor record book)
4. Alex Hartig – 15.48m (50-9.50) (5 points)
11. Ashley Weber – 14.13m (46-4.25)
Men’s 60m Dash Finals
3. Devan Spann – 6.66 (6 points, PR, No. 5 in ASU record book)
Men’s 400m Dash
20. Cody Moore – 49.01
27. Sterling Winston – 49.81
Men’s 800m Run
17. Michael Julian – 1:53.49
21. Trevor Landry – 1:54.76
Men’s Mile Run
15. Cody Brazeal – 4:09.90 (PR won section)
Men’s 3000m Run
16. Ryan Herson – 8:05.11
28. CJ Albertson – 8:15.75
29. Daniel Wong – 8:16.27 (PR)
Men’s 60m Hurdles Finals
1. Cameron Taylor – 7.73 (10 points, PR, remains No. 2 in ASU record book)
Men’s 4x400m Relay
10. Moore, Winston, Julian, Landry – 3:19.03
Men’s High Jump
1. Bryan McBride – 2.26m (7-5.00) (10 points, MPSF meet record, ties indoor PR)
12. Edmond Baker – 2.04m (6-8.25)
Men’s Triple Jump
4. Bryan McBride – 15.38m (50-5.50) (5 points, PR, No. 10 in ASU record book)
5. Josh Dixon – 15.36m (50-475) (4 points)
Men’s Shot Put
3. Thomas Anderson – 18.84m (61-9.75) (6 points)
4. Ahmed Hassan – 18.53m (60-9.50) (5 points, PR, No. 9 in ASU indoor record book)
5. Kyle Lillie – 18.49m (60-8.00) (4 points, PR, No. 10 in ASU indoor record book)
19. Kyle Long – 15.81m (51-10.50)