The More Things Change the More They Stay the Same
T. William Gooch
Final Results
Ogden, Utah – The Sacramento State women’s track and field team won their third straight outdoor Big Sky title Saturday afternoon with a total of 145 points. While the Weber State men won the men’s title, their first since the 2006 season. The Wildcats finished the championship with 176.5 points.
Sacramento State becomes only third program to win three straight outdoor women’s titles, the other two were Northern Arizona (2004-06) and Boise State (1984-86). The Hornets were lead by a spectacular performance from sophomore Moira Robinson. Robinson won gold in the triple jump, long jump, high jump, and the 100m-hurdles. Her 40 total points ties her for most all-time in league history in a single outdoor championship. Robinson recorded season bests in the high jump, 5’ 8”, and the 100m-hurdles, 13.78 seconds.
The Hornets also received gold medals from Lizzy Norvell in the Pole Vault, Renisha Robinson in the 800m, and Ify Agwuenu in the shot put. Norvell won the pole vault with a height of 13-2.75, breaking the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Championship record of 13-1.75 set by Montana State’s Elouise Rudy in 2009. Agwuenu has now won back-to-back shot put titles and Renisha Robinson contributed to the team’s total points in the 1,500m with a fourth-place finish.
Idaho State senior Cassie Merkley won the javelin with a distance of 161-10.25, placing her in the top-10 in the western region. She also won the women’s heptathlon on Thursday.
Weber State freshman Sarah Callister won the 10,000m Friday night in the time of 35:57.85. She then followed that performance by winning the 5,000m in the time of 17:32.95.
Heading into the men’s 4x400m relay, the final event, Weber State trailed Northern Arizona by a half point. Weber State’s 4x400m relay team entered the championship with the conference’s best mark, and the Lumberjacks gave them an early test in the race. In the end thought the anchor leg of Taylor Pebley was too much and Weber State sealed the title when he crossed the finish line at 3:12.06.
The Wildcats also collected points from Tyler McBee’s first-place finish in the 400m-hurdles. Pebley finished third in the same race, along with grabbing a silver medal in the 400m. Chris Struckman had a pair of second-place finishes, the first coming in the 100m and the other in the long jump. Freshman Mike Staker finished second in the high jump, while Ryan Shelton took second in the shot put, and Eki Faagai also took second in the discus.
Northern Arizona had another great performance in the distance events. All-American David McNeill won the 1,500m and the 5,000. The Lumberjacks had five of the top six finishers in the 5,000m. Diego Estrada took second, Ahmed Oseman third, Ben Ashkettle fifth, and Andrew Belus finished sixth. Fellow Lumberjack Darius Terry took second in the 1,500m.
Charles White won gold in the triple jump and bronze in the long jump. He was joined on the medal stand by Josh DeKonty, who took second in the triple jump. Andres Rossini won the discus with the distance of 182-0.25. Senior Curtis Durocher won his second hammer throw title in the three seasons with a toss of 201-2.5.
Sacramento State’s Ronald Brookins turned in an impressive individual performance by winning the 100m dash, 110m-hurdles, and the long jump. He also ran on the silver medal winning Hornet 4x100m relay team.
Ronald Brookin – Junior, Sacramento State - Men’s 110m-Hurdles Champion – Third Medal (Long jump, 4x100 Relay) with two more events to go.
“It was kind of slow, I didn’t get out as well as I wanted to and I was trying to break our school record which was 13:76, and I’ve tied it already, but 13:84 isn’t going to cut it.But it’s ok cause it’s day two and a lot more lactic acid in my msucles so everything will probably be a little slower. I was still happy I won because last year was a really challenging race, I was kind of hurt… so this year to be healthy and won has been great.”
Andres Rossini – Junior, Northern Arizona – Men’s Discus Champion
On winning: “It’s nice. I was looking for it and definitely looking forward to regionals in a few weeks.”
Tyler McBee – Junior, Weber State University – Men’s 400m-Hurdles Champion
“I just set my race up, ran my own race, didn’t worry about anybody else and finished hard with Tyler Short right there he came up on the inside of me on hurdle eight and after that it was two men racing their hearts out.”
Moira Robinson – Sophomore, Sacramento State – After winning high jump, Robinson’s fouth gold.
On winning: “It feel’s good. It was unexpected cause `Coach Raske always talked about Project 40… she kept pushing me that I could do that and I didn’t see it but I guess she was right.” NOTE: Project 40 is 4 events and four golds.
Charles White – Freshman, Northern Arizona – Men’s Triple Jump Champion
“Our plan was to go one two from the jump. It really didn’t matter what position, just one was going for one and one for two. And then on this very last one, when he jumped ahead of me, I knew I had to get it in and that pushed me to regionals too, and it’s my P.R. (personal record)”
Taylor Pebley – Weber State – Men’s 4x400m - Anchor Leg.
“There was a lot of pressure going in and our team knew that we had to beat NAU to win the meet, but our team thrives on pressure, does really well and I hope that if they brought me a little bit of lead, what I had left in the tank would win it for us and it did. the team won it and as soon as they got me the baton, I knew it was over cause they had done so well and I was really grateful for them.”