Jan. 25, 2008
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Arizona State University track and field team opened its 2008 indoor season at the Friday Night Challenge in Flagstaff, Ariz., Friday evening with the Sun Devils turning in several impressive marks, including April Kubishta, who automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships in the pole vault. The women's sprinters dominated the meet, winning all five events to lead the way to 14 total titles, seven by both the men and women.
Kubishta cleared 4.20m (13-09.25) to punch her ticket to Fayetteville for the national meet where the 2007 NCAA Outdoor champion will look to win her second title. In the same event, Alana Waterford cleared 3.81m (12-06.00) to place second while recording the fourth-highest clearance in school history. Also moving into fourth on the Top 5 lists was Jacquelyn Johnson, who won the high jump with a mark of 1.83m (6-00.00) to provisionally qualify for the NCAA Championships.
The men posted four provisional qualifying marks for their own in the meet, including two in the 400m dash. Newcomer Joel Phillip won the event in 47.06 while Jimmie Gordon was right behind him 47.17. Matt Turner won the high jump with the fifth-best clearance in program history of 2.14m (7-00.25) to earn a provisional mark while Jason Lewis's toss of 17.96m (58-11.25) in the shot put also warranted provisional status.
Freshman Dominique' Maloy made an impressive debut for the women as she won the 60m dash in 7.59 before taking the 200m dash in 24.42. Another newcomer also made a splash as Jeavon Benjamin won the 400m dash in 56.73 before helping the 4x400m relay of Jordan Durham, Jasmine Chaney and Shauntel Elcock to a victory as well. Johnson rounded out the victors for the women as she won the 60m hurdles in 8.55.
The men saw Calvin Abram win the 200m dash in 21.87 while placing third in the 60m dash (6.87). Phillip and Gordon joined with Darryl Elston and Justin Kremer to win the 4x400m relay, just 0.56 away from provisionally qualifying with their winning time of 3:10.96. The final victory for the men came in the pole vault as Joe Fazio cleared 4.75m (15-07.00) for the win.
The Sun Devils will return to action at three locations next weekend, including the Husky Invitational in Seattle, Wash., the Mountain `T' Invitational in Flagstaff and the United Heritage Classic in Boise, Idaho.