The Long Beach State track and field team had a successful day at the Big West Challenge as the men took top honors for the 12th time in 17 years, while the women notched a respective third-place finish.
Both the 49er men and women had a handful of individuals finish better than their rankings heading into the meet.
“I am very impressed by the strength of the teams we competed against today,” said 49er head coach Andy Sythe. “They definitely brought out our better side and we did a good job of overcoming key injuries by rebounding with some great performances.”
The men were at the head of the pack, compiling 209 total team points. Freshman Matt Maldonado had a breakthrough performance, placing second in the 1500-meter run with an NCAA Regional qualifying mark of 3:47.76. Maldonado, who shaved 10.24 seconds off his personal-best, posted the 29th-fastest time in all of NCAA Division I this season. Classmate Raul Arcos also clocked in with a season-low 3:53.12 for a third-place finish.
Junior Kenneth Medwood won the 400-meter hurdles in 52.63 seconds, while sophomore Christopher Lawson notched a runner-up performance in the 110m hurdles with a lifetime-best 14.42. Medwood also recorded a career-long 23-00.00 in the long jump.
Junior Alex Freitas placed second in the 800m (1:50.85), while sophomore Jonathan Evans recorded a personal-record 1:53.68 for fifth place.
Senior Collin Cram led the men in the field events, winning the pole vault with a career-high tying 16-00.75. Junior Rodney Hawkins added a first-place finish in the triple jump (46-08.00), while classmate Alex Black tied his career-best for a runner-up performance in the high jump (6-10.75).
Rounding out the winners for the men was sophomore Rajan Bains (discus), senior Patrick Smith (javelin) and senior Dylan Jaedtke (3000m steeplechase).
Senior Carly Harris paced the women, taking second in the 3000-meter steeplechase with her second NCAA Regional mark (10:34.30). Her time stands as the second-fastest in school history and the 24th-fastest of 2009 in all of Division I.
Senior Kristina Wilson also had an outstanding day, winning the 3000-meter run with a lifetime-best 9:54.75. Junior B.J. Triplett added top five performances with personal records in both the 100m (12.17) and 200m (24.85).
Over in the field events, sophomore Katelyn Beighton won the pole vault , clearing 11-06.75, while junior Tayler O’Connor claimed the high jump for the second consecutive week (5-07.00).
Senior Jennifer Onyeagbako continued to anchor the 49er throwers as she was a double-winner in the discus (159-03) and hammer (178-07).
Long Beach State returns to action with a busy schedule next week. The 49ers are set to compete in the Mt. SAC Decathlon-Heptathlon (April 15-16) and the Mt. SAC Relays (April 16-17), while also playing host to the Beach Invitational at Cerritos College on Saturday, April 18.
Report By LBSU