March 23, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State University track team opened the ASU Clif Bar Invitational Friday night with the hammer throw as Sarah Stevens won the women's event to lead the team at the meet being held inside Sun Angel Stadium in Tempe. Tomas Navarro was the top male finisher for the Sun Devils as he placed 17th in a very deep men's competition.
Stevens, in her first outdoor meet of the season after winning the 2007 NCAA Indoor shot put title, recorded a mark of 65.43m (214-08) to not only win the event, but also set a meet record. The previous best cam in 2004 when Ashland Elite's Jackie Jeschelnig threw a mark of 64.45m. Also placing for the Sun Devils were Tai Battle, who placed fourth with a toss of 57.83m (189-09), and Jessica Pressley was fifth with a mark of 57.34m (188-01). All three Sun Devils qualified for the NCAA West Region Championships later this year.
On the men's side, Navarro's mark of 53.63m (175-11) was the top Sun Devil mark on the day, placing him in 17th place among the 41 men competing. Andy Haas placed just behind him, taking 18th with a toss of 53.52m (175-07) while Andrew Smith finished 25th in 50.83m (166-09). Olympian A.G. Kruger won the men's event with a meet-record toss of 75.43m (247-06), bettering the throw of Kibwe Johnson (Ashland) in 2005, which was 72.70m.
The ASU Clif Bar Invitational continues Saturday with the discus opening the field events at 10:30 a.m. while the running events get underway with the 100m hurdles at 4 p.m.