June 25, 2009
TEMPE – Three men in the steeplechase with ties to the Arizona State University track and field program advanced to the finals and two women placed among the Top 7 in their respective events to lead the ASU contingent on the first day of action at the 2009 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., on Thursday. The Sun Devil program was represented in seven events on the first of four days of action with 11 different athletes participating in events.
Former 10-time All-American and indoor 5,000m NCAA Champion Amy Hastings was the lone Sun Devil to compete in a final on the track on Day One as she finished sixth in the women’s 10,000m run with a time of 32:56.20. In the field, incoming freshman Anna Jelmini and 2008 NCAA runner-up Tai Battle competed in the senior division of the women’s discus with Jelmini, a recent high school graduate, placing seventh overall with a toss of 57.23m (187-9). Battle, a two-time All-American in the event for the Sun Devils, placed 11th overall at 53.70m (176-2).
On the track, the Sun Devils were represented in five events with the most success coming from the men’s 3,000m steeplechase as all three entrants advanced to the finals. Aaron Aguayo, a seven-time All-American, led the way as the second qualifier in 8:42.01 and was followed by Kyle Alcorn, the 2008 NCAA champion in the event, who was eighth in 8:43.66. Ryan Warrenburg, an All-American in the event in 2005 and 2006, was 13th overall in 8:45.21, giving ASU three of the 14 qualifiers to the final.
Marcus Brunson was the only other man to advance in an event as he ran 10.06 in the 100m dash first round to rank 12th overall and earn a berth in the semifinals. Mason McHenry, a rising sophomore on the team, competed in the 800m run and placed 34th overall in 1:52.74.
Latosha Wallace, a 400m dash Pac-10 Champion and All-American in the 400m hurdles, competed in the first round of the hurdle event and ran 57.08 to rank sixth overall and move onto the semifinal. ASU’s final entries on the day came in the women’s 100m dash first round where both Charonda Williams (11.27) and Dominique’ Maloy (11.58) placed 17th and 23th, respectively, and fail to advance. Williams, who missed out on advancement by 0.001, will join Maloy in the 200m dash event later in the week.
Another 11 Sun Devils will compete on Friday, including Jelmini, who will participate in the junior division of the discus where she enters with a high school record mark of over 190 feet. Wallace will compete in the semifinals of the 400m hurdles and Hastings will run in the final of the 5,000m event to round out the repeat competitors. Also set to compete on Friday include Jordan Clarke (junior men’s shot put), Sarah Stevens and Jessica Pressley (women’s senior shot put), Cara Carpenter (junior women’s pole vault), Jason Lewis and Ryan Whiting (men’s senior discus), Lisa Galaviz (women’s senior steeplechase) and Brandon Bethke (men’s senior 5,000m).
2009 USA Senior/Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Day 1 (Thursday, June 25)
Women’s 400m Hurdles - First Round
6. Latosha Wallace - 57.08 - advances to semifinal
Women’s 100m Dash - First Round
17. Charonda Williams - 11.27 - does not advance
23. Dominique’ Maloy - 11.58 - does not advance
Men’s 100m Dash - First Round
12. Marcus Brunson - 10.06 - advances to semifinal
Men’s 800m Run - First Round
34. Mason McHenry - 1:52.74 - does not advance
Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase - First Round
2. Aaron Aguayo - 8:42.01 - advances to final
8. Kyle Alcorn - 8:43.66 - advances to final
13. Ryan Warrenburg - 8:45.21 - advances to final
Women’s 10,000m Run - Final
6. Amy Hastings - 32:56.20
Women’s Discus - Final
7. Anna Jelmini - 57.23m (187-09)
11. Tai Battle - 53.70m (176-02)