For Immediate Release // Saturday, May 12, 2012

Contact // Natalia Ciccone (nciccone@pac-12.org)

Web Release | Day One Results | Sunday Heat Sheets

UCLA Men, OREGON Women Lead After Day One of Pac-12 Track & Field Championships

EUGENE, Ore. -- At the end of the first day of the Pac-12 Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., four points separate the menÂ’s teams in the standings with UCLA leading, while the Oregon women hold onto a six-point lead in the womenÂ’s competition. Thirteen individual champions were also crowned in the field and distance events, as well.

In the menÂ’s standings, the Bruins are in front with 45 points, followed by OREGON with 44 points, ARIZONA with 43 points and WASHINGTON is in fourth with 41 points. In fifth is ARIZONA STATE with 33.50 points, CALIFORNIA with 27 points, league-newcomer COLORADO with 26 points and STANFORD is in eighth with 24 points. WASHINGTON STATE is in ninth with 20.5 points, USC is 10th with 5 points and OREGON STATE rounds out the field with three points.

On the womenÂ’s side, the Ducks have a bit of a cushion with 46 points, staying in front of STANFORD and USC, who each have 40 points to tie for second. ARIZONA STATE is in fourth place with 38 points and ARIZONA is fifth with 35 points. In sixth is COLORADO with 21 points, followed by UCLA with 17 points, WASHINGTON STATE with 16 points and WASHINGTON with nine points. UTAH is 10th with six points, with CALIFORNIA posting five points for 11th place.

USCÂ’s Marissa Minderler won the weekendÂ’s first event, throwing a personal-best 220-11 (67.35m) in the hammer, successfully defending her Conference title. It was the fifth-best mark in the history of the Pac-12. The Trojans dominated the event, scoring 23 points. Teammate Jenny Ozari was second with a throw of 215-1 (65.56m) and UCLAÂ’s Ida Storm was third with a 210-6 (64.17m).

Brianna Bain gave STANFORD its first points of the competition, winning the javelin with a throw of 175-9 (53.58m), also the sixth-best distance in Pac-12 history. WASHINGTON STATEÂ’s Courtney Simmons  and Christine Kirkwood were second and third, respectively, with marks of 166-3 (50.68m) and 161-9 (49.31m).

ARIZONA STATEÂ’s Jordan Clarke, the 2012 NCAA indoor shot put champion, repeated as the Pac-12 Champion in the event, with a 65-2 (19.86m) to claim the title. ARIZONAÂ’s Bozidar Antunovic had a 63-0.75 (19.22m) on his first throw, which would hold up for second place, while StanfordÂ’s Geoffrey Tabor placed third after posting a 55-5.5 (16.90m).

In the menÂ’s pole vault, WASHINGTON freshman JJ Julifs won the event, clearing a height of 17-10.25 (5.44m), but went on to set a personal-best of 18-2.5 (5.55m). Sophomores ASUÂ’s Derick Hinich cleared 17-6.25 (5.34m) and UCLAÂ’s Michael Woepse achieved a 17-2.25 (5.24m) for second and third. WoepseÂ’s brother, Greg, was the ConferenceÂ’s pole vault champion in 2011.

The Sun Devils swept the shot put after Anna Jelmini had a throw of 56-3.75 (17.19m). On their final attempts, ArizonaÂ’s Alyssa Hasslen and StanfordÂ’s Alyssa Wisdom claimed spots on the podium, with Hasslen placing second with a throw of 53-3.5 (16.34m) and Wisdom posting a 51-6.5 (15.71m).

In the menÂ’s long jump, the top-four places were achieved on each of the athletesÂ’ third try. The field included two of the top-10 jumpers this season. WSUÂ’s Stephan Scott-Ellis was the winner with a mark of 25-9.25 (7.85), which would have ranked in the top 10 in the nation, after posting a season best of 25-1.75 (7.66m), a mark good enough to be ranked in the top 25. CALIFORNIAÂ’s Hammed Suleman was second with a 25-5.25 (7.76m), the highest Golden Bear placer to this point in the meet. The WildcatsÂ’ Nick Ross was third with a jump of 25-4.25 (7.73m).

The menÂ’s steeplechase was close throughout, but CalÂ’s Collin Jarvis pulled out in front to claim the Conference title with a lifetime-best time of 8:48.05, followed by ColoradoÂ’s Aric VanHalen, who crossed the finish line in a time of 8:50.09. StanfordÂ’s Benjamin Johnson was third with a time of 8:52.90.

Coming in with the fastest time in the country in the steeplechase, COLORADOÂ’s Shalaya Kipp threatened the Pac-12 meet record, but was just short and won the event with a time of 9:57.39, just over three seconds off the record. Winning the race by nearly 12 seconds, Kipp was the BuffsÂ’ first-ever Pac-12 track and field champion. OREGON swept the second and third spots in the race, with Kimber Mattox running in a time of 10:08.23, followed by teammate Melanie Thompson with a time of 10:13.51.

On her final attempt and half way through the sixth round, Arizona StateÂ’s Constance Ezusha took the lead with a leap of 21-2 (6.45m) in the long jump and eventually won her first-career title. StanfordÂ’s Arantxa King was second, jumping a 21-0.75 (6.42m), twice in her six attempts. Cardinal teammate Karynn Dunn was third with a jump of 20-10.5 (6.36m).

A pair of junior Wildcats took the top-two spots in the menÂ’s high jump. Nick Ross was the champion in the event, clearing a height of 7-2.5 (2.20m). Teammate Edgar Rivera-Morales shared the podium for second place with WSUÂ’s AJ Maricich, both clearing 7-1.25 (2.17m). ASUÂ’s Bryan McBride and WSUÂ’s Jovan Vukicevic also cleared 7-1.25 (2.17m), but tied for fourth.

The last field event of the day played to the hometown crowd. Ranked ninth in the country heading into the weekend in the event, OregonÂ’s Sam Crouser won the javelin by 19 feet over second-place. He posted 250-10 (76.47m) in his third attempt to eventually claim the individual crown. UWÂ’s Joe Zimmerman was second with a throw of 231-10 (70.67), and in third was UCLAÂ’s Derek Eager with a throw of 223-9 (68.21m). Crouser, whoÂ’s father won two Pac-10 titles in the discus in 1982 and 1983 for Oregon, also has an uncle who was the 1984 and 1985 Pac-10 javelin champion as a Duck, as well.

The final two running events of the evening were clear winners. In the menÂ’s 10,000-meter race, ArizonaÂ’s Stephen Sambu won the event for the second-straight year, finishing in a time of 29:20.19, over 14 seconds faster than the second-place finisher UOÂ’s Luke Puskedra (29:34.42). ColoradoÂ’s Christian Thompson crossed the finish line in a time of 29:46.76 to earn third place.

UOÂ’s Alex Kosinski led the pack the entire way in the 10,000-meter race and was way out in front by the end, winning the race with a time of 34:19.67. She is the second Duck in three years to win the 10k title. ArizonaÂ’s Jennifer Bergman was second with a time of 34:33.85, followed by OregonÂ’s Allison Woodward (34:37.37).

Preliminaries

In the womenÂ’s 100 meter race, the top-three seeds won their heats to automatically qualify for SundayÂ’s finals. Defending champion OregonÂ’s English Gardner was just off the meet record in the event, which she set last year. She had the fastest time at 11.07. USCÂ’s Aareon Payne won her heat with a time of 11.52 and StanfordÂ’s Shataya Hendricks posted a time of 11.59.

WashingtonÂ’s James Alaka, the 2011 champion in the menÂ’s 100 meters, won his heat with a time of 10.34. USCÂ’s Aaron Brown had the fastest time in the event with a 10.27, and the DucksÂ’ Arthur Delaney ran in a time of 10.34 to advance.

In the womenÂ’s 200 meter, OregonÂ’s Phyllis Francis ran a personal best and the fastest time in the event with a 23.05. USCÂ’s Payne advanced, as well, with a 23.28. The DucksÂ’ Gardner won her heat with a time of 23.43.

USC had the two fastest times in the 200-meter race. Aaron Brown, who had posted the fastest 200-meter time this season in the Pac-12, nearly matched his season best, finishing with a top time of 20.55. Freshman teammate Devonte Stewart finished in a time of 20.64 to move on, and defending champion UWÂ’s Alaka ran in a time of 20.72. 

OregonÂ’s Phyllis FrancisÂ’ 52.39 was the fastest time in the 400-meter preliminaries. WSUÂ’s Shawna Fermin posted a time of 52.95 and the DucksÂ’ Chizoba Okodogbe finished with a time of 53.72.

One of the top-three 400-meter runners in the country this year, USCÂ’s Bryshon Nellum had the fastest heat time in the event at 45.98. Defending champion and Oregon sophomore Mike Berry ran in a time of 46.01 and WashingtonÂ’s Maurice McNealÂ’s  46.78 to automatically qualify for the finals on Sunday.

OregonÂ’s Claudia FrancisÂ’ time of 2:04.88 was the fastest heat time in the 800-meter race, followed by ASUÂ’s Shelby HoulihanÂ’s 2:07.22 and UOÂ’s Becca FridayÂ’s 2:08.41.

It will be a battle of two of the top-10 runners in the 800 meter race on Sunday as OregonÂ’s Elijah Greer posted the fastest time in the event at 1:49.99. He will go up against ASUÂ’s Mason McHenry, who ran in a time of 1:50.70. WSUÂ’s Joe Abbott won his heat with a 1:51.73.

OregonÂ’s Jordan Hasay will look to repeat as the 1,500-meter champion, finishing the race with a time of 4:22.0, the third-fastest time today. Teammate Anne Kesselring was the fastest in the event with a 4:20.83, followed by the BuffsÂ’ Jessica TeboÂ’s 4:21.25.

In the menÂ’s 1,500 meter race, ArizonaÂ’s Lawi Lalang, the national leader in the event and the defending champion, cruised to the top time at 3:44.62. The top five times came out of the first heat, which included Lalang. StanfordÂ’s Michael Atchoo (3:45.35) and Chris Derrick (3:45.37) were right behind Lalang in second and third. OregonÂ’s Trevor Dunbar was the top runner in the second heat with a time of 3:46.46.

In the womenÂ’s 100-meter hurdles, Stanford runners posted the top two times in the heats. Cardinals Katie Nelms edged teammate Kori Carter, posting a 13.12, .03 ahead of Carter. USCÂ’s Dalilah Muhammad won her heat with a time of 13.45 to advance.

The top 110-meter hurdler this season in the Pac-12, OregonÂ’s Jonathan Cabral ran a 13.69 for the fastest time of the day in the event. StanfordÂ’s Amaechi Morton posted a 14.18 and WSUÂ’s Ramsey Hopkins a 14.28 to automatically qualify.

The nationÂ’s leader in the 400-meter hurdles, ArizonaÂ’s Georganne Moline easily won her heat with a 55.64, the only hurdler on Saturday to break 57 seconds. UCLAÂ’s Turquoise Thompson will be looking for a three-peat in the event, winning her heat with a 57.09. USCÂ’s MuhammadÂ’s 57.54 was good enough to win the third heat and was the third-fastest time in the event.

The menÂ’s 400-meter hurdles were led by the top-ranked hurdler in the event. StanfordÂ’s Amaechi Morton finished with a time of 50.17, followed by USCÂ’s Reggie Wyatt (51.22) and WSUÂ’s J Hopkins (51.56). There will be a first-time champion in the event, after WSUÂ’s Jeshua Anderson claimed the Conference title the last four years.

The second day of the Pac-12 Track & Field Championships continues on Sunday at 10:45 a.m. with the women’s discus, followed by the men’s hammer throw at noon. On Sunday, 27 more individual champions will be crowned, as well as the men’s and women’s team champions. Fans can follow the action on the championship page that can be found on the Pac-12 website with live stats and live blogging. Follow the Pac-12 on twitter @pac12 and “like” the Conference on Facebook at facebook.com/Pac12Conference.

MenÂ’s Standings

1.  UCLA  -  45

2.  Oregon - 44

3.  Arizona - 43

4.  Washington - 41

5.  Arizona State - 33.50

6.  California - 27

7.  Colorado - 26

8.  Stanford - 24

9.  Washington State - 20.50

10. USC - 5

11. Oregon State - 3

WomenÂ’s Standings

1.  Oregon - 46

2.  Stanford - 40

2.  USC - 40

4.  Arizona State - 38

5.  Arizona – 35

6. Colorado – 21

7.  UCLA - 17 

8.  Washington State - 16

9.  Washington - 9

10. Utah - 6

11. California - 5

Individual Champions - Men

WomenÂ’s Hammer - Marissa Minderler, USC (67/35m/220-11)

WomenÂ’s Javelin - Brianna Bain, STAN (53.58m/175-9)

MenÂ’s Pole Vault - JJ Juilfs, WSU (5.44m/17-10.25)

MenÂ’s Shot Put - Jordan Clarke, ASU (19.86m/65-2)

MenÂ’s Long Jump - Stephan Scott-Ellis, WSU (7.85m/25-9.25) (w)

WomenÂ’s Shot Put - Anna Jelmini, ASU (17.19m/56-4.75)

WomenÂ’s Long Jump - Constance Ezugha, ASU (6.45m/21-2)

MenÂ’s High Jump - Nick Ross, ARIZ (2.20m/7-2.5)

MenÂ’s Javelin - Sam Crouser, ORE (76.47m/250-10)

MenÂ’s 3,000m Steeplechase - Collin Jarvis, CAL (8:48.05)

WomenÂ’s 3,000m Steeplechase - Shalaya Kipp, COLO (9:57.39)

MenÂ’s 10,000 meters - Stephen Sambu, ARIZ (29:20.19)

WomenÂ’s 10,000 meters - Alex Kosinksi, ORE (34:19.67)

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