LBSU Begins Indoor Track Season at UW Invitational

Fatima Vergara was the Big West champion in the women's hammer throw with a toss of 189-04.

Photo by: John Fajardo

1/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Indoor Track

Jan. 28, 2016

LONG BEACH - The Long Beach State track and field team begins the 2016 indoor season at the UW Invitational in Seattle, Wash., this weekend. The Beach will send 49 athletes to compete at the two-day meet, Jan. 29-30.

UW INVITATIONAL
The UW Invitational will be held at Dempsey Indoor on the campus of the University of Washington. Both the running and field events get underway at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29. On Saturday (Jan. 30), a busy day begins with the women's 60-meter hurdles and the men's weight throw at 10 a.m. The 49ers have 29 women and 20 men scheduled to compete in the team's season-opening meet.

Long Beach State will be participating in dual meet scoring at the UW Invite. The men will be in a team competition against Idaho, Gonzaga and Washington, while the women are up against Cal Poly, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon State and Washington.

"We haven't really come to this meet with these types of numbers before, so that may present a challenge for us, but we are looking forward to a high-level of competition," LBSU head coach Andy Sythe said.

HELLO, SEATTLE
Long Beach State will head to Seattle, Wash., for all four of its regular-season indoor meets. The Beach opens the month-long campaign at the UW Invitational before making its way back to Seattle for the Husky Classic (Feb. 12-13), UW Indoor Open (Feb. 14) and the MPSF Championships (Feb. 26-27). The only meet on LBSU's slate that is not in Seattle is the NCAA Indoor Championships, which will be held in Alabama.

"Seattle is one of our favorite cities to travel to," Sythe said. "UW's facility is top-notch and one that we find will give us the ability to perform at the highest level because of the outstanding track surface and arena."

LOOKING AHEAD
With only three meets before the MPSF Championships in late February, the Beach is looking to post top marks right away. The 49ers have a limited number of chances to achieve the numbers they will need in order to advance to the faster sections at the conference meet in late February.

SENIOR CLASS
Long Beach State's decorated senior class begins its final season at the Beach this weekend. Leading the way for the men is Willie Alexander, who owns the indoor school record in the long jump (25-00) and ranks eighth all-time in the triple jump (48-03.25). Michael Perez-Rogers is also among LBSU's top-five in the 200m (21.54) and 400m (47.61), while Dylan McCloskey is third in the 100m (6.89). In addition, Conner Rouse (PV, 17-00) and Michael Montgomery (PV, 16-04.75), along with Kody Robison (WT, 57-11.75) enter their final campaign already among the 49er top-10. Other seniors competing this weekend are Ryan Colebrook and Devin Hickey.

On the women's side, the Beach has three seniors who have etched their names in the school record books in the weight throw. Fatima Vergara (62-05) and Marina Shelton (60-08.5) are the only 49ers to have reached the 60-foot mark as they are No. 1 and 2 in program history. Chaylene Bruggeman is also tied for eighth at 52-04.75, while Aundrea Yancy is eighth in the high jump (5-06). Other seniors entered in the UW Invitational include Jodi Lambert, Taylor Lorack, Natalie O'Dwyer, Nikki Puerner, Jessica Rotter, Brianna Viltz and Brianna Wilson.

WELCOME HOME
Long Beach State's Jack Rose Track & Field Stadium recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation. The completed project showcases a facility that is among the very best in the United States. The centerpiece is the track and its design features, and when all phases are complete, the stadium will boast seating for 5,000 spectators. With this, and other important elements accomplished, this redesign will complete the vision of a national-class facility that can play host to major invitational meets as well as NCAA and U.S. Track and Field championships.

For the first time since 2005, the 49ers will be able to hold their annual home meet, the Beach Invitational, on campus. LBSU is also set to host the 2016 Big West Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Jack Rose Track Stadium in May.

UP NEXT
Long Beach State will return to action in two weeks when it makes its way back to Seattle for the Husky Classic (Feb. 12-13) and the UW Indoor Open (Feb. 14).