UC Irvine Spring Break Invitational
Cal Poly Wins Five Events; Williams Moves to No. 3 in School History
3/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
IRVINE, Calif. — The Cal Poly track and field team won five events and saw a hurdler run one of the three best times in program history at the UC Irvine Spring Break Collegiate Invitational on Saturday in Anteater Track Stadium. The meet featured nine teams on the women's side and seven for the men.
In the first race of the afternoon, the women's 400-meter relay, freshman Daijah Joe-Smith, sophomores Ajah Love (pictured at right) and Mishe' Scott, and freshman Jess Rasmussen combined to finish in 46.91 seconds. The Mustangs won in a photo finish, edging Cal State Fullerton by three-hundredths of a second.
The relay squad was also well represented in the 100 later in the day, as Joe-Smith took fourth place at 12.03, ahead of Love in fifth (at 12.09) and Rasmussen in eighth (12.46).
Later in the afternoon, Cal Poly redshirt freshman Ricky Strehlow won the men's triple jump, putting down a mark of 47 feet, 0.25 inches.
Sophomore teammate Kendal Nielsen also had another productive meet, winning the women's triple at 39-11.25 and taking third place in the long jump, at 18-7.75. (Senior Shereese Cutler added a third-place mark in the triple jump, at 38-2.)
Mustang senior Jamison Jordan won the men's 100 at 10.84. Junior Walter Finney (in fifth at 11.07) and freshman Isaiah Gibson (seventh, 11.21) also scored in the sprint.
The other first-place finish came courtesy of Chris Frias, the reigning Big West Conference Track Athlete of the Week, in the men's 1,500. He came in at 3:52.30; teammate Sean Davidson followed in second at 3:53.02. Both were PRs for the seniors.
Additionally, Cal Poly had three others earn second-place finishes.
In the women's pole vault, junior Clara Davis and sophomore Amy Loschiavo both cleared 12 feet, 1.5 inches, but Davis did so in one fewer attempt to claim the second-place points. (Senior Ferrin Peterson also tacked on a fourth-place vault, getting over the bar at 11-7.75.)
Sophomore Danielle Bryan matched her PR in the women's high jump already for the second time this outdoor season, clearing 5-7 for second place, and freshman Danny Yeager also took second in the men's high jump, at 6-2, ahead of junior teammate Devin Bennett (in fifth at 6 feet even).
About an hour after the opening relay, Cal Poly senior David Williams etched his name among the best in school history for his premier event. Williams came in third in the men's 110 hurdles, with a time of 14.42.
Not only did his performance establish a personal record, but it also moved into the No. 3 spot on the school's all-time top-10 list. (Williams' previous PR, 14.60, had been tied for No. 9.) Freshman Ben Hartinger wasn't too far behind Williams, in seventh at 14.88.
The women's 1,500 saw three Mustangs run together in the top five: sophomore Sara Van Dyke (in third at 4:35.392), junior Hanna Edwards (fourth, 4:35.397) and freshman Kylie Nishisaka (fifth, 4:35.87).
Back on the men's side, senior Chris Bet led the Mustangs in the pole vault, coming in fourth place at 15-1. Freshman Ivy Adair was also fourth in the long jump, at 22-11.75. Additionally, sophomore Kristen Narum was fifth in the women's 800, at 2:16.48, and junior Cliff Lekas was sixth in the men's 400, at 49.49.
For complete meet results, click HERE.
The Mustangs will return home to host the Cal Poly Invitational on Friday and Saturday. A complete schedule of events can be found HERE.
