Jan. 27, 2006
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The Arizona State University track and field team returned to the Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff, Ariz., Friday night for the Arizona-California Challenge and returned to Tempe with 18 event victories, eight NCAA provisional qualifiers and two school records. Team scores were kept in the Challenge, but are not tabulated and available at this time.
In just her second meet of the season, Jacquelyn Johnson looked to be back to the form that won her the NCAA Heptathlon title in 2004 as she won three individual events, including the 60m hurdles, high jump and long jump, while also helping the 4x400m relay win their race. All three of Johnson's individual efforts qualified her provisionally for the NCAA Championships as she recorded marks of 8.30 in the hurdles, 1.80m in the high jump and 6.30m in the long jump.
Sarah Stevens made her ASU debut in fine fashion as she won the shot put with the second-best mark in school history at 16.75m. Stevens, who provisionally qualified for the national meet, saw fellow thrower Jessica Pressley win the weight throw with a school-record toss of 20.92m, breaking Adrienne Judie's 2001 mark of 20.74m. Pressley also provisionally qualified in the shot put at 16.22m.
Pressley was not the only Sun Devil with a school record on the day as April Kubishta cleared 4.05m in the pole vault to break the mark of 4.03m that Angela Tavlarides recorded one year ago. Kubishta also earned a provisional mark for the NCAA meet in the event.
The lone man to earn provisional status on the day was Andrew Smith as his throw of 18.24m in the shot put got him on the list. Although the men did not post any other provisional marks, they did win eight events while the women won 10. Overall, the men and women swept five of the contested events on the day with Domenik Peterson (47.45) and Christina Hardeman (55.78) winning the 400m dashes; Ryan Warrenburg (8:43.98) and Amy Hastings (10:00.39) won the 3,000m race; Kubishta and Brandon Glenn (5.05m) both won the pole vault; and both relays (the 4x400m and distance medley) went to the Sun Devils.
Along with the good fortune in the five events swept by ASU, the men also too four of the five sprint events on the day. Steven Koehnemann won the 60m dash (6.78), Kelvin Love, Jr., won the 200m dash (21.40), Peterson took the 400m and the 4x400m relay of Chris Adams, Love, Peterson and Jimmie Gordon took their event. The only non-victory came in the 60m hurdles where Marquis Profit finished fifth with the third-fastest time in school history.
The other winners for the Sun Devils included Jack Mann.
The Sun Devils will split their ranks next weekend with several athletes competing at the Air Force Invitational in US Air Force Academy, Colo., on Feb. 3-4 while the rest of the competing student-athletes will return to Flagstaff on Feb. 4 for the Mountain `T' Invitational.
2006 Arizona-California Challenge
Victorious Sun Devils
Women (10)
Christina Hardeman - 400m Dash (55.78)
Amy Hastings - 3,000m Run (10:00.39)
Jacquelyn Johnson - 60m Hurdles (8.30)
Jacquelyn Johnson - High Jump (1.80m/5-10.75)
Jacquelyn Johnson - Long Jump (6.30m/20-8.00)
April Kubishta - Pole Vault (4.05m/13-03.50) school record
Jessica Pressley - Weight Toss (20.92m/68-7.75) school record
Sarah Stevens - Shot Put (16.75m/54-11.50)
4x400m: Latosha Wallace, Jacquelyn Johnson, D'Metra Macedon, Christina Hardeman (3:44.77)
DMR: Whitney Hardt, Rachel Ellison, Jessic McLaughlin, Anna Masinelli (12:40.13)
Men (8)
Jack Mann (11:00.87)
NCAA Provisional Qualifiers
Women (7)
Jacquelyn Johnson - 60m Hurdles (8.30)
Jacquelyn Johnson - High Jump (1.80m/5-10.75)
Jacquelyn Johnson - Long Jump (6.30m/20-08.00)
April Kubishta - Pole Vault (4.05m/13-03.00)
Jessica Pressley - Shot Put (16.22m/53-02.75)
Jessica Pressley - Weight Toss (20.92m/68-07.75)
Sarah Stevens - Shot Put (16.75m/54-11.50)
Men (1)
Andrew Smith - Shot Put (18.24m/59-10.25)