May 31, 2003
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State track and field teams concluded competition in the first-ever NCAA West Region Championships Saturday with the women taking fourth place and men placing sixth at Stanford. On the day, Lisa Aguilera, Jason Barton and the women's 4x100m relay team of Porchea Carroll, Tiffany Greer, Cassandra Reed and Kandace Tucker took home regional crowns to help the Sun Devils in the team scoring race.
Aguilera, the school and Pac-10 record holder in the 3,00m steeplechase, bettered her mark in the event with a 9:46.30. Her time is just three seconds off the NCAA record and five seconds away from the United States record. Joining Aguilera in a record run was Kris Alexander in 8:55.35 in the men's race. His time is the fourth-fastest in school history.
Barton, competing in the 400m open dash, clocked a 46.32 to win the race with teammate Seth Amoo coming in right behind him as the runner-up at 46.45. The final champions, the women's relay, crossed the line in 44.58 and gave Greer her second regional title in as many days as she captured the long jump a day earlier.
In all, eight runners (including two relays) qualified for the NCAA Championships while three field event athletes also will compete on the national stage. In the field, Vince Mosca threw the shot 19.33m to finish third and also move into the No. 6 spot on the all-time ASU list. Sandra Orsund, the 2003 Pac-10 Champion in the discus, threw 52.80 to place fourth. Ryan Zimmerman placed fifth in the triple jump with a leap of 15.73m.
The runners who have qualified for the NCAA meet are the women's 4x100m and the men's 4x400m relays, Reed (400m), Barton (400m), Amoo (400m), Luiz Mello (100m dash), Jeff Dodge (800m) and Aguilera (3,000 steeplechase). Fasil Bizuneh qualified for the 5,000m race Friday evening along with Desiree Davila (5,000m) and Greer (long jump). Bizuneh also will compete in the 10,000m run.
After a week off, the Sun Devils will travel to Sacramento State June 11-14 for the 2003 NCAA Championships.
2003 NCAA West Region Championships ASU Results ONLY FIELD EVENTS Men's Javelin 23. Mike Rivers 51.30m (168-04)
Men's Shot Put 3. Vince Mosca 19.33m (63-5.00)
Men's Triple Jump 5. Ryan Zimmerman 15.73m (51-7.25)
Women's Discus 4. Sandra Orsund 52.80m (173-03) 20. Julia Petersen 44.82m (147-00) 21. Molly Clarke 44.78m (146-11)
RUNNING EVENTS Women's 4x100m Relay 1. ASU 44.58 Porchea Carroll, Tiffany Greer, Cassandra Reed, Kandace Tucker
Women's 100m Hurdles 7. Seneca Holmes 13.58
Women's 400m Dash 4. Cassandra Reed 53.30
Men's 400m Dash 1. Jason Barton 46.32 2. Seth Amoo 46.45
Women's 100m Dash 6. Porchea Carroll 11.69
Men's 100m Dash 5. Luiz Mello 10.52
Men's 800m Run 5. Jeff Dodge 1:51.15
Women's 3,000m Steeplechase 1. Lisa Aguilera 9:46.43 (fastest in nation) 19. Cody Sohn 10:54.63 28. Mandi Fitz-Gustafson 11:12.59
Men's 3,000m Steeplechase 7. Kris Alexander 8:55.35 10. Ryan Warrenburg 8:59.69
Women's 4x400m Relay 5. ASU 3:37.64 Cassandra Reed, Kandace Tucker, Seneca Holmes, Joni Smith
Men's 4x440m Relay 3. ASU 3:08.12 Jason Barton, Steve Fitch, Jeff Dodge, Seth Amoo