| 49ERS HEAD TO NAU THIS WEEKEND
Beach Coming Off Successful Indoor Meet at Utah State
The Coach: Director Andy Sythe is in his 14th season as director of both the track and field and cross country programs. During Sythe's tenure, track athletes have achieved 87 NCAA qualifying performances, 55 conference champions, had 19 All-Americans, three Big West Athletes of-the-year, one NCAA national champion and another NCAA runner-up.
Record-Breaking Trip: Two 49ers returned from Logan, Utah with school recods. JC transfer Shingo Suzumura broke the 60m hurdle record with a time of 8.19 aa. Junior Serena Boykin broke upped her own indoor shot put record with a toss of 49'10.00".
Results from Utah: The Long Beach State track team returned from Utah with 11 athletes in 14 events qualifying for the indoor conference championships. Seven women and four men have hit qualifying standards for the championships on February 22 in Boise, Idaho.
Boykin Impressive in Utah: Serena Boykin not only qualified for the conference champioships, but hit a national qualifying mark in the shot put for the USATF Indoor National Championships, held in Boston February 28 to March 1. Boykin just missed qualifying for the NCAA Indoor National Championships by a single centimeter with a throw of 49'10.00".
Elite to Travel to Flagstaff: A traveling group of 11 athletes will make the trip to Northern Arizona University this weekend to compete in the Mountain T Invite. Jason Dolison (200m, 400m), Brady Douglas (400m), Jamaal James (400m) and Meghan Atkinson (400m) will comprise the sprint group. Gladys Iwuaba will be the sole jumper representing The Beach in both the long and triple jump. Serena Boykin (shot put), Shannon Daniels (weight throw), Michelle Pequignot (weight throw), and Stephanie Sampson (weight throw and shot put) will represent the women's throws squad. Josh Kopczak and Cory Loebl will both compete in the shot put and the weight throw.
Sythe's Thoughts on this weekend: "This weekend we are traveling some of our top athletes to improve their marks for the conference meet and to try and hit national qualifying marks. A few athletes who traveled to Utah last weekend will be resting after strong performances and will not make the trip to Flagstaff."
On the sprints: "The quarter-milers were hindered by facilities at the Utah State meet and will use the Mountain T Invite as a location to run fast times with possible all-time top performances and have another try at qualifyng marks for conference."
On the Throws: "This weekend will also give another opportunity for Shannon Daniels and Stephanie Sampson to break the school-record in the weight throw. Serena Boykin will also have another shot at her own record as well as increase her national standing in the shot put. We are also looking for Cory Loebl to have a big meet." |
