May 30, 2008

Day One Quotes in PDF Format

NCAA West Region Day One Results

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Cal State Northridge earned four points on the men's side and advanced several women to Saturday event finals on the first day of the NCAA West Region Track and Field Championships at the Matador Track & Field Complex.

Sophomore Sherrina Lofton led the women by advancing to Saturday finals in both the 100 and 200 meters. Lofton ran 11.62 in the 100 to finish sixth among eight who advance. She then ran 24.03 in the 200, also the sixth-best time in the prelims.

Shelese Ruffin advanced to the 400 meter final as the sophomore ran 54.59 to post the fourth-best qualifying time. Teammate Tara Prier ran 54.93 to finish just out of the top eight.

Senior Ashleigh McGrew clocked a time of 14.12 in the 100 meter hurdle prelims but failed to crack the top eight. The same was true for Julie Eze who finished 14th in the 400 meter hurdle prelims in a time of 61.48.

In the field events, senior Krystal Quinn, who has the Northridge pole vault record at 13-1.50, was able to clear 12-6 (3.81) and placed 14th.

Northridge was shut-out of the throws scoring as junior Morgan Bogard finished 14th in the discus at 151-4 (46.14) and placed 12th in the hammer at 175-1 (53.38). Teammate Raquel Sola, the Big West champion in the hammer, finished just out of the scoring in ninth-place with a mark of 186-7 (56.87).

Junior Bradley Ike ran a wind-aided (2.7) 10.35 to post the second-fastest time in the 100 meters. Ike advances to Saturday's 100 meter final at 4:10 p.m. Ike wasn't as fortunate in the 200 meters as he clocked a time of 21.81 to finish 16th and failing to reach Saturday's final.

In the 110 hurdles, senior Thomas Ross posted the second-fastest time in the 110 hurdles as he ran 13.72 to trail only UCLA's Kevin Craddock (13.68). Saturday's final at 3:55 should be one of the highlight's of Saturday's final day of competition.

Also on the track, the day began with the Matadors being disqualified from the 4x100 relay when third-leg runner Kenjamine Jackson dropped the baton before the final exchange.

In the field events, freshman Reindell Cole, the national leader in the long jump, finished sixth after posting a best of 24-6.50 (7.48) on Friday. Teammate DaShalle Andrews, the reigning NCAA long jump champion, finished a disappointing 12th after a best of 23-9.50 (7.25).

Sophomore Derek Cooper finished eighth in the shot put at 58-3.75 (17.77) while teammate Alex Butler, the 2008 Big West Shot Put Champion, finished 16th at 55-2.75 (16.83).

Regional Report The Arizona State men¹s and women¹s track & field teams proved to be the dominant squads during first day action on Friday at the NCAA West Regional.

Arizona State, which won the Pac-10 women¹s title, finished 1-2-3 (Tai Battle, Jessica Pressley and Sarah Stevens) in the women¹s discus. Battle won the competition with a throw of 180-6 (55.02m) ... Another Sun Devil athlete, Ryan Whitting, won the regional title in the men¹s shot put at 67-7 (20.30m). Arizona State also picked up a win in the men¹s long jump when Matt Turner jumped 26-0 (7.92m) to also set a Matador Track Complex record.

After the first day of competition, the Arizona State women¹s team, the 2008 Pac-10 champions, leads the competition with 50 points with Stanford in second place with 33 points, and UCLA in third place with 23.50 points.

The Sun Devil men also lead the competition with 22 points followed by Arizona with 20 and USC in third place with 18.Eva Orban from USC captured the women¹s hammer with a throw of 211-9 (64.54m). Another USC athlete won top honors in the men's javelin as Corey White won the event with a toss of 241-11 (73.73m). White's throw is an NCAA West Regional record. Washington State's Trent Arrivey is the 2008 men's high jump champion at 7-3.25 (2.22m). Stanford won two regional titles on Friday. In the women¹s long jump, Erica McLain won the title with a leap of 20-9.25 (6.33m) while Teresa McWalters captured the 5,000 meter title with a time of 16:42.66 ... The men's regional title for 2008 went to David McNeill of Northern Arizona at 13:52.20. San Diego State's Stephanie Bagan won the women¹s pole vault competition with an effort of 14-3.50 (4.36m).

- GO MATADORS -