Report by LBSU

The Long Beach State track and field team heads to Northridge this weekend for the Big West Conference Championships, May 14-15.

The Beach will be sending 31 men and 27 women to the conference meet at Matador Track. The competition gets underway Friday at 9 a.m. with the men’s hammer throw, while the first track event is the women’s 3000m steeplechase, which is slated to start at 2:30 p.m.

On Saturday, the women’s discus kicks things off at noon, while the track competition starts at 3 p.m. (women’s 4×100 relay). The final event is the men’s 4×400 meter relay, which is scheduled for a 5:55 p.m. start.

The 49er men will be contending for their third Big West championship in five years. The Beach previously claimed the title twice in Northridge, winning the championship in 2006 and 2008.

Kenneth Medwood will play a key role in LBSU’s success as he is slated to compete in four events. He enters the meet ranked first in the 400m hurdles, third in the long jump and fourth in the 200m, while he will also run the opening leg of the 4×400 relay. The 49ers also look to score a good amount of points in the distances with Matt Maldonado (1500m) and Alex Freitas (800m) ranked among the top five in their events.

One of the strongest event areas for the women will be the throws as Randi Hicks and Alex Shaw enter the meet ranked first and second in the javelin. The high jump is also one of LBSU’s top events as Tayler O’Connor, Sara Macey and Katrina Graves-Johnson make up a solid trio. The distances will also be an area where the 49ers have the potential to score a lot of points. Alisia Barajas, Jennifer Rodriguez, Missy Barclay and Annie Randall will anchor that group.