Reports From LBSU 

The Long Beach State track and field team returns from an 11-day layoff today when it makes the short trip to Irvine for the annual Big West Challenge Cup at Anteater Stadium.

BIG WEST CHALLENGE CUP
The Big West Challenge Cup is a closed collegiate meet featuring scored team competition between Long Beach State, Cal State Fullerton, UC Santa Barbara and host UC Irvine. The field events are slated to get underway with the hammer throw at 2 p.m. and conclude with the discus at 6:30 p.m. The running events will take place in the evening, beginning with the men’s steeplechase at 6 p.m. The women’s 4×400 relay is the final event scheduled with an 8:55 p.m. start time.

The 49ers are looking to duplicate their past individual and team successes at the Big West Challenge this year. The men have dominated the team competition, winning the challenge cup 12 times, including each of the last two seasons.

CAL-NEVADA CHAMPIONSHIPS RECAP
The 49ers are coming off a strong showing at the Cal-Nevada Championships two weekends ago. The men finished second behind UCLA, while the women took 15th. Cesar Puga highlighted the field events, claiming the discus title with a lifetime-best 181-02. Over on the track, Sam Jeter and Kenneth Medwoodtook second and third in the 400-meter hurdles, while Nick Kelley bettered his top 5000m time by nearly a minute as he had a runner-up finish (14:37.50). On the women’s side, Randi Hicks won the javelin with a toss of 155-06, while Alex Shaw placed fifth overall (138-03).

RODRIGUEZ SETS 10000M SCHOOL RECORD
Jennifer Rodriguez established a school record in the 10000-meter run, clocking in at 35:19.05 at the Stanford Invitational. Alisia Barajas(35:22.06) and Annie Randall (35:29.56) also claimed the second and third best marks in 49er history.

AROUND THE BIG WEST
A handful of 49ers rank among the Big West leaders in their respective events. Randi Hicks (170-11) and Alex Shaw (164-01) still hold the top two marks in the women’s javelin, which they established at the Ben Brown Invitational on March 6. Nicholas Armstrong and Alex Black are tied for first in the men’s high jump as they both cleared 6-10.75 at the USC Trojan Invitational, while Cesar Puga ranks second in the discus (181-02). Sam Jeter (51.48) and Kenneth Medwood (52.00) are second and third, respectively, in the 400m hurdles.

Heading into the weekend, Long Beach State has 24 Big West qualifiers in 34 events on the men’s side and 18 qualifiers in 22 events on the women’s side.

HICKS SETS BIG WEST RECORD, EARNS WEEKLY HONOR
Junior Randi Hicks was named the Big West Women’s Field Athlete of the Week following her record-setting performance at the Ben Brown Invitational on March 6. The Oxnard, Calif., native established a conference and school record in the javelin as she won the event with her effort of 170-10.

UP NEXT
Long Beach State returns to the track with a busy schedule next week. The 49ers are set to participate in the Mt. SAC Decathlon/Heptathlon (April 14-15) and Mt. SAC Relays (April 15-17), while hosting the Beach Invitational from April 16-17.