Fresno State Athletics
Track and Field Gears Up for Outdoor Season
3/11/2002 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
March 11, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. -
Men's Track and Field Release for the Week of March 11, 2002
Women's Track and Field Release for the Week of March 11, 2002
Up Next
The outdoor season begins on Saturday, March 16, in San Luis Obispo with the Cal Poly Invitational.
USA Nationals
Senior Ryan Beckenhauer qualified to participate in the 2002 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, held at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York City, March 1-2. There he finished ninth overall with a throw of 59-1 1/4.
Indoor is Out, Outdoor is In
The 2002 Western Athletic Conference Championships was the 10th such event for the Bulldogs. The team finished the event with a third place finish and 116.33 points. The placing was the best since 1998, when it finished in third with 83.5 points. The distance medley relay team clocked a Fresno State record 10:02.27 to earn the first-ever championship in the event. The time was nearly seven seconds faster than the previous time of 10:08.41. Senior Roosevelt Cook ran the 1,200 meters, junior Joshua Foster ran the 400 meters, junior Alex Mason ran the 800 meters and junior Philip Ogilvie finished with the mile run. Also, freshman Russell Weaver won the pole vault with a height of 15-9. The win was the fourth-straight title for the 'Dogs. In addition, seniors Duran Archie and Beckenhauer earned third place finishes. Archie had the honor in the triple jump with a team-leading and personal-best leap of 50-6, while Beckenhauer threw 61-2 1/4. Senior Josh Alfaro took second in the pentathlon with a career-best points total of 3,442.
At Cal Poly Last Season
At the 2001 Cal Poly Invitational the Bulldogs saw solid performances from the relay teams. The 400-meter sprint relay finished second with a time of 41.82, while the 1,600-meter relay team captured third place in a time of 3:53.12. In addition, then sophomore Kevin Carano finished in fourth place in the long jump with a leap of 21-11 1/2.
Attacking the WAC
The Bulldogs tallied nine top three finishes and 29 top 10 ranks in the Western Athletic Conference top performances to finish the indoor season. Senior Justin Schwartz and Weaver led the WAC in the pole vault with a height of 15-9. Schwartz also ranks third in the 55-meter hurdles (8.30). Beckenhauer was second in the WAC in the shot put with his NCAA provisional mark of 61-3, while senior Kyrah Ayers was third in the long jump with a team-leading 23-9 1/2.
How We Did Indoors
The 'Dogs ended the indoor season well with a highlighted first place performance at the Bill Cosby Invitational, Saturday, Feb. 9. The team collected a season-high 170.5 points in the victory. Previously, the men split their double-dual meet at NAU, defeating UC Irvine (100-45), but losing to NAU (80-78). Fresno State opened the year with a seventh place finish and 40.5 points at the Air Force Elite Invitational, Jan. 25-26.
Ring Around the Throwers
The crew of Beckenhauer, junior Joe Vasquez, sophomore Shlomi Ben-Shushan and senior Mike Guidry have been taking care of business in the ring this season. In addition to Beckenhauer qualifying for the shot put, Vasquez and company consistently placed in the top three at every regular season event. The WAC Championships was equally successful as Beckenhauer finished third in the shot put, Ben-Shushan earned third in the weight throw, while Vasquez was fourth. The foursome weaved their way into the WAC's top performances in the shot put. Beckenhauer ranks second in the SP, Vasquez followed in fifth (52-9 1/2), Guidry was close in sixth with 52-1 and Ben-Shushan was behind him in seventh (49-5 3/4). In the WT, Vasquez was second (56-6 3/4), Ben-Shushan ranked third (56-4 1/2).
Go Ahead and Jump
The Bulldogs are making their presence known in the jumping events this season. Ayers finished the indoor campaign with a third place rank in the long jump (23-9 12). Senior Josh Alfaro earned a personal-best 6-8 height in the high jump to rank third in the WAC, while junior Kyle Carano notched himself in fifth in the triple jump (49-10) and Archie was fourth in the triple jump at 50-6.
Head Coach Bob Fraley
Head coach Bob Fraley returns for his second season at the helm of the Bulldogs. He also holds the position of Director of Track and Field. When he isn't busy serving as an administrator, Fraley is in charge of the pole vaulting, jumps, hurdles and men's sprint crews. Prior to his current engagement, Fraley was the coach for the women's team, including the 1994 WAC Champions. Along with 20 years of coaching Fresno State's program, Fraley is also heading a new project called the "Center of Excellence" program which will assist Fresno State student-athletes, after they exceed their eligibility, to obtain professional careers in coaching or the like. In addition, he has been a Pole Vault Summit Director, including the 2002 summit.
2002 WAC Championships
Rice is the host for the WAC Outdoor Championships in Dallas, Texas. Events begin Wednesday, May 15, through Sat., May 18.
2002 Outdoor Leaders (From last season)
Event Athlete
100 Meters Darnell Hammock (100-10.74),Chad Seiler (10.85), Kyle Carano (10.95), Kevin Carano (11.09) 200 Meters Chad Seiler (21.66), Darnell Hammock (21.58), Duran Archie (22.48), Kyrah Ayers (23.90) 400 Meters Darnell Hammock (50.31), Chad Seiler (50.81) 800 Meters Roosevelt Cook (1:50.88), Gabe Orosco (1:51.59), Alex Mason (1:5.03), Curtis Barela (2:11.89) 1,500 Meters Roosevelt Cook (3:56.29), Alex Mason (3:56.94), Moses Avila (4:27.39), Kevin Smith (12:29.80) Steeplechase Roberto Vaca (9:35.09), Moses Avila (9:46.39), Curtis Barela (10:34.71), Kevin Smith (12:29.80) 5,000 Meters Roberto Vaca (15:02.96), Curtis Barela (16:43.28), Moses Avila (16:12.21), Kevin Smith (17:44.14) Hurdles Josh Alfaro (110-56.00, 400-57.27), Justin Schwartz (110-16.27) High Jump Josh Alfaro (6-8), Adam Hess (5-10 1/2) Long Jump Duran Archie (24-7 1/4), Kyrah Ayers (23-9 1/2), Kevin Carano (21-11 1/2) Triple Jump Duran Archie (51-1), Kevin Carano (51-2 1/4), Kyrah Ayers (50- 1 1/4), Kyle Carano (50-7 1/4) Pole Vault Mark Unzueta (17-4 1/2), Justin Schwartz (15-5) Shot Put Joe Vasquez (50-3 1/2), Shlomi Ben-Shushan (48-3 1/2) Discus Joe Vasquez (169-6), Shlomi Ben-Shushan (123-0) Javelin Allen Mendrin (162-2), Justin Schwartz (139-11) Hammer Shlomi Ben-Shushan (189-7), Joe Vasquez (151-6)
Up Next
The outdoor season begins on Saturday, March 16, in San Luis Obispo with the Cal Poly Invitational.
Indoor is Out, Outdoor is In
The 2002 Western Athletic Conference Indoor Championships was the 10th such event for the Bulldogs. The 'Dogs finished the occasion with a third place tied with Southern Methodist University at 94 points. The placing was the best since 1998, when the team captured second with 81 points. Simmons was the only individual champion for the Bulldogs. She won the 55-meter hurdles with a career-best time of 8.04. Additionally, she finished second in the triple jump, fourth in the long jump, seventh in the high jump and eighth in the 55-meter dash. She led the team with 26 points. Freshmen Crystal Phillips and Ocie Parks finished two-three in the 55-meter dash. Phillips crossed in 7.03, while Parks was close behind at 7.05. For the throwers, junior Jamie Farley placed fifth in the weight throw with a mark of 56-3 1/2.
Cal Poly Last Season
The Bulldogs had three top three finishes at last year's Cal Poly Invitational. The javelin throw proved to be the best event, as then junior Kayla Russum and freshman Kristin Schelir finished two-three, Russum took second with a throw of 141-11, while Schelir was third with a mark of 138-7.
Attacking the WAC
The women have a collective 11 top three marks and 32 top 10 results on the WAC top performances list at the end of the regular indoor season. Leading the way was Simmons with four, second place top performances. Freshman Crystal Phillips had three top five performances.
Danger, Simmons
Jumps specialist Crystal Simmons earned a NCAA provisional mark in the triple jump at the Bill Cosby Invitational, Saturday, Feb. 9. Her NCAA leap of 41-7 1/4, was not only a provisional mark, it was a personal-best and a third-straight TJ victory for the Bulldog. Simmons became the second Bulldog on the women's squad to earn the NCAA mark. To qualify automatically, she must jump 43-1 3/4. Her leap ranks her second in the WAC.
Lesser Is More
Sophomore pole vaulter Lexine Lesser made her 2002 debut with a NCAA provisional qualifier in her respective event after she finished in first place with a height of 12-5 1/2. She is one of two to qualify for the women this season. In addition, she ranks third in the WAC, behind Jenni Ashcroft and Dana Huesby of Nevada with marks of 12-9 1/2 and 12-6 1/4 respectively.
A Look Back at Indoors
It was nearly a sweep for the 'Dogs this indoor season, taking first in two of three invitationals. The women finished in second place at the Bill Cosby Invitational. FS collected 142 points, significantly fewer than host Nevada, which earned 201.45. However the count for the Bulldogs was more than double that of any other team, including California's score of 67.50. Earlier in the month, the 'Dogs defeated both Northern Arizona and UC Irvine at NAU, Feb. 2. Finally, the team captured first at the Air Force Elite Invitational, Jan. 26, with 126 points.
It's Crystal Clear
There are two student-athletes on the squad this season with a first name of Crystal. The first is a junior named Crystal Simmons, a woman who owns the Fresno State outdoor record in the triple jump with a leap of 41-8 3/4. This season already she has recorded 10 top three finishes. At the Bill Cosby Invite, she inked a NCAA provisional mark in the TJ, second in the long jump (18-11 3/4). Recently, she won the 55-meter hurdles at the WAC Indoor Championships. The second Crystal is freshman Crystal Phillips. Phillips reigns the WAC with her time of 7.53 in the 60 meters. She also rates second in the 55 meters (7.02) and fourth in the 200 meters at 24.54.
Take Shelter
The throws squad is a force to be reckoned with this season. The shot put is solid with sophomore Kristin Schelir leading the team by more than two feet with her personal-best of 47-7 1/2. Senior Andrea Stelter is the leader in the 20 pound weight with a personal-best 57-2 3/4.
2002 WAC Outdoor Championships
Rice is the host for the WAC Outdoor Championships in Dallas, Texas. Events begin Wednesday, May 15, through Sat., May 18. Rice will also be defending its two-year title of the Ondoor Championships. Last season the Owls captured 142 1/2 points. Fresno State finished sixth with 110 points.
2002 Outdoor Leaders (From last season)
Event Athlete 100 Meters Tiffany Simon (12.12), Katie Christianson (12.25) 200 Meters Tiffany Simon (24.96), Katie Christianson (25.02), Crystal Simmons (25.59) 400 Meters No returner times available for outdoor 800 Meters Stacy Esquivel (2:18.97), Kara June (2:19.64) 1,500 Meters Kara June (4:38.10), Stacy esquivel (4:47.44), Jennifer Smith (4:46.50) 3,000 Meters Olga Gutierrez (10:14.85), Jennifer Smith (10:11.21 Steeplechase Kara June (10:53.83), Mandy Hollister (13:11.74) 5,000/10,000 Meters Olga Gutierrez (17:51.99/39:04.55), Kara June (18:43.20), Jennifer Smith (17:47.51/39:58.10) Hurdles Crystal Simmons (100-14.36), Mandy Hollister (100-14.60/ 400-1:02.22), Jenny Moore (100-16.20), Kara June (400- 1:08.80) High Jump Crystal Simmons (5-3 1/4), Jenny Moore (5-2 1/4) Long Jump Crystal Simmons (19-6 1/4), Jenny Moore (18-0 1/2) Triple Jump Crystal Simmons (42-10 1/4), Jenny Moore (39-9 1/2) Pole Vault Bergann Hernandez(11-9), Lexine Lesser (11- 6 1/4) Shot Put Kristin Schelir (44-11 1/2), AndreaStelter(43-10), Jamie Farley (43-3 1/4), Discus Kristin Schelir (153-1), Jamie Farley (151-2), Kayla Russum (127-3), Andrea Stelter (106-5) Javelin Kayla Russum (155-4), Kristin Schelir (138-7), Andrea Stelter (117-2) Hammer Andrea Stelter (175-1), Jamie Farley (170-6), April Wiechmann (169-10), Kristin Schelir (156-5), Kayla Russum (149-5), Chris tina Weaver (151-0)
