Vanguard 6 | Arts 6&|Culture Sports February 20, 26, 2009 2010
SPORTS extra
Big Sky Indoor Track and Field Championships
Sports Editor: Robert Britt 503-725-4538 sports@dailyvanguard.com
Which pentathlon? Not to be confused with the ancient pentathlon, the classic pentathlon or the modern pentathlon, the athletes at this weekend’s Big Sky Championship will compete in the indoor pentathlon.
Vikings compete for gold medals at conference championships
Competition begins with a hurdles event before taking to the field for a high jump, shot put and long jump. The event ends with a distance run to test endurance.
Nadya Ighani Vanguard staff
The indoor track season is coming to an end, and 21 student-athletes from the Portland State men’s and women’s track and field teams are closing the season today at the conference championships. The Big Sky Indoor Championships begin today and run through tomorrow in Bozeman, Mont. Portland State sent 14 women and seven men to compete against the best runners, jumpers and throwers in the conference. The Vikings are looking to improve on last year’s Indoor Championships, when three PSU athletes walked away with a total of four medals—three gold and one silver. Senior Nick Trubachik, last year’s champion in the indoor heptathlon, is looking to repeat his gold-medal performance and become the first PSU athlete to secure back-to-back championships in the event. “It goes without saying that Nick Trubachik will be on the hunt to go to nationals, as well as win indoors,” said head coach Ronnye Harrison. Trubachik took last year’s gold with a then-school record of 5,261 points. This year, he comes into the championships with a new school record of 5,307 points. An increase in Trubachik’s points is not the only way the Portland State teams have improved this season. Under the ambitious guidance of Harrison, the men’s and women’s teams have come a long way from past seasons. “Last year, we struggled to have 14 women going into the first meet—this year we had 25,” Harrison said in a statement released earlier this year. “Academically, I think we have improved
Though the differences in name may be subtle, the variance in events is drastic. Listed below are the breakdowns. Ancient pentathlon Long jump Javelin throw Greek-style discus Stadion race Wrestling Classic pentathlon Long jump Javelin throw 200-meter race Discus throw 1,500-meter race Modern pentathlon Shooting Swimming Fencing Horse racing Cross country running Military pentathlon Shooting Obstacle running Obstacle swimming Throwing Cross country running Indoor pentathlon 55-meter hurdles High jump Shot put Long jump 800-meter run The men’s multievent competition at the Indoor Championships—the heptathlon—involves two extra events. For the men’s heptathlon, the events will span two days of competition. Indoor heptathlon Day 1: 55-meter run Long jump Shot put High jump Day 2: 55-meter hurdles Pole vault 1,000-meter run
Vanguard Arts & |Culture Sports 7 |7 February 26, 20, 2009 13, 2010
a bit as well, which makes coaching a lot easier when you don’t have to worry about those kinds of things.” Seven of Harrison’s student-athletes met the conference’s qualification standards in the first meet of the 2010 season, and the championship roster just built up from there. Throughout the season, the Vikings made serious impressions on the record books. Leading the pack is sophomore Tony Crisofulli, who broke the school record for the 800-meter with a time of 1 minute, 50.82 seconds at the UW Husky Classic earlier this month. His time is less than a second shy of the NCAA qualification standard. Harrison feels the championships provide a new environment for unexpected improvement. “Focus and purpose are the operative words of the day,” he said. “To do something you never did, you have to do something better than you’ve ever done.” Sophomore sprinter Gerrone Black has consistently lowered her times this year. Her time of 7.58 seconds in 60m converts to 7.06 seconds in the 55m and ties for the fastest in the Big Sky this year. Junior Karene King holds the fourth-fastest times in the Big Sky in both the 55m and the 200m with 7.1 and 24.87 seconds, respectively. Junior Katie Blue, who already holds the No. 1 spot in PSU’s books in the 5,000m with last year’s time of 18:05.39, comes into this year’s championship meet with the sixth fastest time in conference. Portland State’s runners will be competing at altitude in Bozeman, but Harrison doesn’t think that will affect the performance of his teams. “It’s the championships—if you have the time to make excuses, you shouldn’t be here,” Harrison said. The Big Sky Indoor Championships begin at 9 a.m. today at Montana State’s Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. Events run through tomorrow.
Qualified athletes: Adrienne Davis
Malissa Anthony
Not pictured: Jordan Brown, Nate Lightner, Brittany Long, Alyssa Rife, Amber Rozcicha
Aaron Leopold/Portland State Vanguard
Stephanie Deever
P’lar Dorsett
Quiana Jackson
Junior Albany, Ore. 5,000m Qual: 18:39.81, UW Husky Classic
Sophomore Nassau, Bahamas 55m hurdles Qual: 8.56 seconds, Jackson’s Open
Sophomore Chandler, Ariz. 4x400m relay
Katie Blue
Sophomore New York, N.Y. 55m Qual: 7.06 seconds*, UW Husky Classic
Junior Olympia, Wash. 5,000m Qual: 18:27.26, UW Husky Classic
*Ties for fastest in conference
In the 10,000m last year, Blue finished in seventh place
Adrienne Davis
Karene King
Junior Portland, Ore. Shot put Qual: 43 feet, 9 inches*, UW Indoor Preview
Junior Tortola, British Virgin Islands 55m Qual: 7.62 seconds*, UW Invitational 200m Qual: 7.10 seconds*, New Balance Collegiate Invitational
*10th in conference and the only shot putter from PSU
*Fourth place in conference in both
Upcoming Portland State sporting events Friday Indoor track Big Sky Indoor Championships Where: Bozeman, Mont. When: 9 a.m. Women’s basketball at Idaho State Where: Pocatello, Idaho When: 6 p.m. Men’s basketball vs. Idaho State Where: Stott Center When: 7:05 p.m.
Saturday Indoor track Big Sky Indoor Championships Where: Bozeman, Mont. When: 9 a.m. Women’s tennis vs. Idaho Where: Richland, Wash. When: 9 a.m.
Amirah Karim
Joenisha Vinson
Senior Seattle, Wash. Long jump Qual: 18 feet, 9 inches*, Jackson’s Open
Sophomore Phoenix, Ariz. 55m hurdles Qual: 8.17 seconds*, New Balance Collegiate Invitational Pentathlon
*Eighth in the conference
*Third fastest in conference
Mikeya Nicholson
Jeff Borgerson
Sunday
Senior Belleville, Ill. Triple jump, long jump
Freshman Corvallis, Ore. High jump Qual: 6 feet 5.5 inches*, UW Invitational
Men’s tennis vs. Air Force Where: Greeley, Colo. When: 10 a.m.
Earned silver in the triple jump last year
*12th highest in conference
Tony Crisofulli
Nick Trubachik
Sophomore Vail, Colo. 800m Qual: 1:50.82 second*, UW Husky Classic
Senior Estacada, Ore. High jump Qual: 6 feet, 6 inches, UW Invitational Heptathlon Qual: 5,307 points* UW Invitational
Jesse Cronin
All photos courtesy of PSU Athletics
Junior Oakland, Calif. 4x400m relay
Geronne Black
*Second in the conference Placed 10th in last year’s Indoor Championships
*Second in the conference Last year’s heptathlon champion, he also won the high jump and placed third in five out of seven events
John Lawrence
Andrew Salg
Junior Reno, Nev. 5,000m Qual: 8:34.72, UW Indoor Preview
Junior Van Nuys, Calif. 5,000m Qual: 8:29.20 time*, UW Husky Classic
Senior Scappoose, Ore. 5,000m *Seventh in the conference
Men’s tennis at N. Colorado Where: Greeley, Colo. When: Noon Women’s tennis vs. Seattle U. Where: Richland, Wash. When: 4 p.m. Women’s basketball at Weber State Where: Ogden, Utah When: 6 p.m.
Men’s basketball vs. Weber State Where: Stott Center When: 1:05 p.m.
Monday Women’s golf Fresno State Lexus Classic Where: Fresno, Calif. When: TBA
Tuesday Women’s golf Fresno State Lexus Classic Where: Fresno, Calif. When: TBA