UC DAVIS TRACK AND FIELD
APRIL 2011
UC DAVIS TRACK AND FIELD NEWSLETTER
Aggies Batter All-‐Time list across Causeway
CONTENTS Mondo Mid-‐Major Classic Ugo Eke broke her own school record in the 400m to highlight a day of outstanding performances for the Aggies
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Causeway Dual Two school records fall at the annual Causeway Dual P2
Cal/Nevada Championships Aggies win three state titles at the Cal/Nevada Championships P2
Stanford Invite Distance runners impact all-‐ time lists in late night heats of 10k P3
Athlete Feature Meet standout sprinter Melanise Chapman P4
Go, Ags!
7 Aggies moved up the all-‐ time lists at the Mondo Mid-‐Major Classic hosted by Sacramento State.
The Aggies had a stellar weekend at the Mondo Mid-‐ Major classic on Friday and Saturday, April 8th and 9th. Freshman Shannon Harcus set the tone for the weekend on Friday night as she dipped under 17:30 to post a time of 17:27.85 in her first ever attempt at the 5k. The streak continued on Saturday morning with two steeplers, senior Caitlin Fitzgerald and junior Samantha Kearney, running well below 11 minutes for the 3000m steeplechase. Fitzgerald ran a personal best time of 10:31.72, just .07 seconds shy of Heather Gibson’s school record, to finish second over all. Kearney followed in third place and a time of 10:50, her second time going under 11 minutes this season.
Senior Ugo Eke broke her own school record clocking a 54.34 to win the Mondo Inviational 400m.
Meanwhile, in the throws ring, the Aggies were getting the job done once again. Senior Chidinma Onyewuenyi won the shot put with a throw of 49’ 5.5” while Eddie Orgon was second with a throw of 55’ 4.75”. Back on the track, the sprinters were having a solid day, highlighted by senior Ugo Eke breaking her own school record in the 400m, running 54.34 to win the event. The Aggies completed a 1-‐2-‐3 sweep of the men’s 400m hurdles. 1
UC DAVIS TRACK AND FIELD
MARCH 2011
Thomas Phillips led the way in 51.22, followed closely by Alex Wilright in 51.54, and rounded out by freshman teammate Karl Moran in 53.34. Kandyce Doxey also made her first appearance on the all-‐time list in the 200m after running 25.09. That time ties her for 10th all-‐time with Stephanie Eckels. The great freshman duo of Nathan Strum and Kevin Griffith continued their hot streak as they posted personal best times in the 800m of 1:50.74 and 1:50.98 respectively. Those performances moved Nathan to Senior Thomas Phillips won the 400m hurdles at the Cal/Nevada State Championships number three and Kevin number five all-‐time at UC Davis. The day wrapped up with another set the shot put, Ray Green in the triple jump, of great performance from 1500m runners Ethan Ostrom in the pole vault and both the Alycia Cridebring and Kristina Taylor. men’s and women’s 4x400m relay teams. Cridebring’s time of 4:28.57 makes her the 7th fastest aggie ever in that event while Taylor’s Aggies post three victories at the 4:30.71 puts her at number 8. Cal/Nevada Championships Senior Thomas Phillips won his second title at the Cal/Nevada Championships in the School records fall at Causeway 400m hurdles at the 2011 meet in Claremont, Dual CA. He also won the event in 2008, as part of a Two school records were broken on five year sweep in which UC Davis has claimed Saturday, April 2nd at the annual Causeway the event. In 2007, 2009, and 2010 the event Dual with Sac State. Melanise Chapman came was won by teammate Alex Wilright who back in the 200m, after winning the 100m, finished sixth this year. Phillips ran a personal with an impressive 24.09. Senior Ugo Eke was record time of 50.52 en route to his victory. In just behind finishing second place in 24.36. addition to Phillips’ performance, senior Both were under the previous record, held by Chidinma Onyewuenyi took first place in the Eke, of 24.41. hammer throw and junior Ethan Ostrom won In the final event of the meet senior the pole vault in a jump of 16’ 10.75”. Chidinma Onyewuenyi became the first Aggie Other notable finishes at the to ever go over 50 feet in the shot put with championships included Lauren Radke’s third her throw of 50-‐4.5. That throw helped her to place finish in the pole vault (12-‐5.5), Ugo capture the event after earlier winning the Eke’s second place showing in the in the 400m hammer in 187’ 3”. (54.61), and Eddie Orgons throw of 53’ 3.75” Other event winners included Kristina inches in the shot put, which tied him for third Taylor in the 1500m, Samantha Kearney in place. the 3000m, Lauren Radke in the pole vault, Thomas Phillips in the 400m, Nathan Strum in the 800m, Jon Sees in the 3000m, Alex Wilright in the 400m hurdles, Eddie Orgon in
Go, Ags!
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UC DAVIS TRACK AND FIELD
MARCH 2011
Woody Wilson Classic 2011 Woody Wilson represents the last chance to catch Aggie Track & Field at home this spring. We hope you can make it out to support! The John Pappa Alumni Mile, Community Kids Race and a hospitality tent, catered by Dos Coyotes, will all occur at Woody Wilson on Saturday, April 16th. Upcoming meets April 30-‐May 1 Steve Scott Invitaional -‐ Irvine, CA May 1 Payton Jordan-‐Cardinal Invitational -‐ Palo Alto, CA May 13-‐14 Big West Championships -‐ Irvine, CA May 24-‐26 NCAA Preliminary Round – Eugene, OR June 8-‐11 NCAA Championships – Des Moines, IA
Go, Ags!
Junior Sam Kearney won the steeplechase at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival in 10:44.81.
Distance crew have strong showing at Stanford Invitational While the rest of the Aggie track & field team competed at the Cal/Nevada Championships, a smaller group of athletes traveled to Palo Alto, CA to compete in the Stanford Invitational. For distance runners, this meet attracts top competition from across the nation and the Aggies stepped up to the challenge. Freshman Nathan Strum led the charge in the afternoon with his 3:51.64 in the 1500m. Senior Jon Sees ran in a later heat of the same event and posted a 3:48.25, his fastest season opener ever. Later that night three Aggies ran in the 10,000m, two of whom made an impact on the all-‐time list. Junior Krista Drechsler ran a PR 34:53.66 to make her the fifth fastest Aggie of all time. In the men’s race senior Calvin Thigpen ran his debut 10k 30:28.90, making him the 9th fastest aggie ever. Teammate Axel Stanovsky followed in 30:54.92. Meanwhile, another group of Aggies were racing at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival. The Aggie’s performances there were highlighted by Sam Kearney’s victory in the 3000m steeplechase. She finished in a PR of 10:44.81, nine seconds ahead of the next competitor. 3
UC DAVIS TRACK AND FIELD
MARCH 2011
Where are you from and at which High School did you attend? I am from SoCal. I was born in Los Angeles, California and I currently live in Lancaster, California. I attended Paraclete High School.
What is your background in track What has been the highlight of and field? the season so far? I started participating in track and field my freshmen year of high school.
Which events do you compete in? I do the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay, and the 4x400m relay.
Which is your favorite? My favorite event is the 100m.
Go, Ags!
The highlight of the season so far is to see how everyone is continuing to improve individually and as a group.
How does Melanise Champman like to spend her free time?
In my free time when I am not studying, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, listening to music, and watching movies. 4
MARCH 2011
Big West Athletes of the Week Female Field Athlete of the Week Chidinma Onyewuenyi March 16th Male Field Athlete of the Week Ethan Ostrom March 16th Female Field Athlete of the Week Chidinma Onyewuenyi April 6th Female Track Athlete of the Week Caitlin Fitzgerald April 13th
2011 Track & Field Staff Byron Talley Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Drew Wartenburg Head Cross Country/Distance Coach Tim Fua Assistant Track & Field/Throws Coach Kim Graham-‐Miller Assistant Track & Field/Sprint Coach Erv Hunt Assistant Track & Field/Hurdles Coach Kim Conley Assistant Cross Country and Track & Field Coach Sam Ahlbeck Volunteer Assistant Cross Country and Track & Field Coach Hideshi Okamoto Volunteer Assistant Track & Field/Jumps Coach
Go, Ags!
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