Sprints, multi-eventers lead track & field home opener
The Arizona State University track and field team was paced by the men’s sprints team and a strong performance from a couple of women’s multi-eventers as the squad opened up the 2012 outdoor season with the conclusion of the Baldy Castillo Invitational at the Sun Angel Stadium in Tempe on Saturday.
Junior Christabel Nettey wasted no time making her mark, setting a meet record in the women’s long jump with a new career-best jump of 6.58m (21-07.25) on her very first attempt of the day to win the event and improve upon her second-place hold in ASU history books in the long jump.
Nettey’s leap came quite literally moments after she wrapped up the high jump competition with a new career-best jump of 1.70m (5-07.00) to finish third in the competition. As if that weren’t enough Nettey went on to take second in the triple jump with a wind-aided leap of 12.35m (40-06.25).
Keia Pinnick had a busy day as well, highlighted by a win in the 400-meter hurdles in 59.63. Pinnick also posted a runner-up finish in the 100-meter hurdles in a personal best time of 13.80. She would also compete in the high jump, long jump and the javelin throw while helping the women’s 4x400-meter relay team to a runner-up finish in 3:38.48 along with teammates Brianna Tate, Kayla Sanchez and Alycia Herring.
Freshman Shelby Houlihan earned the other victory on the day for ASU, clocking a time of 2:09.38 in her collegiate outdoor debut to easily handle her competition in the 800-meter run.
In the men’s sprints, senior Daniel Auberry clocked a time of 10.28 in a super-fast heat benefited by a huge +4.9 tailwind. Auberry mark won’t count towards any records or towards NCAA qualifications or personal records but was good for fourth overall in Saturday’s fast heat.
While Auberry’s time was not wind legal, teammate Justin Freeman’s was in the second heat as he set a new career best time of 10.59 to take eighth overall.
In the men’s 400 meters, sophomore Will Henry led a 1-2-3 sweep with his time of 46.39 – just a tenth of a second away from his career record. Chris Burrows was second in his Division I outdoor debut in 46.66 while John Kline took third in 47.40.
The three would team with Kelsey Caesar to run an incredible opener in the 4x400-meter relay, taking second to perennial powerhouse Texas A&M with a time of 3:05.29 to A&M’s 3:05.14.
The men’s 4x100-meter relay also had a strong run in their debut, even without Ryan Milus, as the team of Auberry, Burrows, Caesar and Rashad Ross took second in 40.05 behind A&M’s 39.41.
The Sun Devils will continue their homestand next weekend as the team hosts the ASU Invitational on Saturday, March 23 beginning at 10 a.m. PST.