March 12, 2012
TEMPE – The Arizona State University men’s track and field team had one of its most productive NCAA Indoor Championship appearances in school history this past weekend in Boise, Idaho.
The Arizona State men took fourth overall in the competition, despite entering the weekend ranked 10th in the country. The men posted two national championships, four first-team All-Americans and two second-team All-Americans on the weekend. The team’s fourth place result was good for a trophy finish, with the NCAA annually awarding trophies to the top four teams in the nation.
For head coach Greg Kraft and the Arizona State men, the weekend’s result marks the second best indoor championship finish in the team’s 26th year in the competition. Only the team’s 2008 indoor National Championship stands better.
Junior Jordan Clarke got things going for the Sun Devils with a historic day in the men’s shot put. Clarke earned his second NCAA Championship and first indoors in the event, launching his final throw of 20.86m (68-05.25) for a new career best and the second-best throw in ASU indoor history.
Clarke had four consecutive personal records on the evening en route to the climactic throw, giving him his second career NCAA title after winning the outdoor championship in 2011.
In the men’s 800-meters, senior Mason McHenry used a strong kick over the final 150 meters to pass Texas A&M’s Michael Preble and hold on for the victory in 1:47.96. It was the second All-America honor of McHenry’s career and first since his freshman season.
Both Clarke and McHenry were seeded eighth coming into the NCAA Championships, making their victories even more momentous. Clarke gave Arizona State a victory in the indoor shot put for the fourth time in the last five years.
McHenry’s victory marked the first time in Arizona State’s school history – indoors or outdoors – that a Sun Devil had earned the NCAA Championship in the event.
Also contributing to the cause was senior Chris Benard in the triple jump. Benard broke his own school record in the event with a leap of 16.50m (54-01.75) to finish as the runner-up.
Arizona State added one more first team All-American in Bryan McBride in the high jump, who took sixth. Ryan Milus (60m) and Nick Happe (mile) both earned second team All-America honors.
For the women, sophomore Anna Jelmini had a new career best throw of 17.15m (56-03.25) in the shot put to finish fifth overall and earn her second career indoor All-America award. Christabel Nettey earned second team honors in the long jump.
Arizona State opens the outdoor season this weekend at home as the team hosts the Baldy Castillo Invitational at the Sun Angel Track Stadium beginning Friday, March 16 and continuing into Saturday.