49ers Set to Host Big West Challenge
Some of the Best in the Conference Head to Jack Rose This Saturday
March 30, 2005
LONG BEACH, CA -- Long Beach State will hold the annual Big West Challenge at Jack Rose Track this Saturday, April 2nd, featuring UC Santa Barbara, UC Irvine, CS Fullerton and the 49ers. Many of the top athletes in the Big West Conference will be participating in Saturday's events. The meet begins at 9:45am with the women's hammer throw, with the rest of the events following throughout the day.
"This meet brings out outstanding competition," said 49er Head Coach Andy Sythe. "You will see a lot of lifetime best's achieved, which only heightens the level of competition."
On the men's side many of the conference leaders are participating in the challenge. In at least six events six out of the 10 top scorers are competing. In the 800m, eight of the top-10 scorers are running led by UCSB's Tetlo Emmen's time of 1:49.38. LBSU's Haben Hagos enters the high jump with the third-best mark in the Big West at 6'10.75", one of nine of the best athletes competing in that event. The Shot Put has seven of the top-10 scorers led by four Beach athletes: Ezra Kwong (third), Kellen Boaz (sixth), David Sampson (eighth), and Andrew Julius (10th).
On the women's side at least six events have six out of the top 10 scorers competing. In the 10,000-meter all top-4 athletes are running, led by 49er Meredith Kramon, who has a Big West-leading 36:11.62. In the 100m, five of the top-10 sprinters are competing. Charlene Deardorff of LBSU leads the Challenge's competitors with the third best time of 12.03. In the javelin, six out of the top-10 athletes are throwing, with Kim Heinz top score (157-07).
"We're going into this meet with a strong squad, the men's team is starting to hit its groove and timing, and they'll be a tough team to beat. The women's team wants it and is ready for an uphill battle. Through planning, strategy, and motivation we want to breed success. We will have to rely on our depth to be successful," said Sythe.
In last year's Big West Challenge the LBSU men's team finished in second place to UC Irvine's 200.5 points. The LBSU women's team also finished in second, scoring 186.5, to UCSB, who led with 214 points.
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