Fresno State Athletics
Track and Field Looks Ahead to USA Junior Nationals
5/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
May 28, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. -
Men's Complete Release in PDF Format
Women's Complete Release in PDF Format
An Additional Meet
The 2002 Junior National Championships will be held at Stanford June 21-22, on Cobb Track and Angell Field. As part of the USA Track and Field Championships, the Junior Nationals features athletes who have not reached the age of 20 years and who have met certain qualifying standards. Four freshmen have met the qualifications, including Ryan Anderson, Kyle Cirrincione, Russell Weaver and Javon Kemp. Anderson met the mark in the 3,000 steeplechase with a time of 9:30.17. Cirrincione qualified in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Weaver met the mark in the pole vault at 16-00, while Kemp qualified in the javelin at 194-3. No one qualified for the senior nationals.
Team Banquet
Track and field held its annual banquet Tuesday, May 21. In addition to a total of 24 awards handed out, four new members were inducted into the Hall of Fame including Bob Stout, Merle Martin, Dick Vierra and Dave Casper. Senior Josh Alfaro was given the award as the team captain. He also was named the Linder Track Man of the Year, which is an award given to the athlete who best represents the sport of track and field. Junior Ryan Burgess received the Coaches Award. Freshmen Javon Kemp, Russell Weaver and Kyle Cirrincione were named Outstanding Freshmen Performers. Senior Duran Archie was the High Point Man. Senior Mike Guidry and junior Kyle Carano took home the Outstanding Field Performer award. Junior Alex Mason was the Outstanding Track Peformer and senior Justin Schwartz was honored as the nomination for male athlete of the year.
2002 WAC Championships
The men finished in fourth place with 116 points at the 2002 Western Athletic Conference Championships. Senior Justin Schwartz earned the only individual crown with his decathlon performance of 6,018 points. He won his specialty event, the pole vault and placed second in the 110-hurdles. Schwartz also took second in the event in regular competition. He tied with the first place finisher from Louisiana Tech, but in more tries. Freshman Russell Weaver also heighted at 15-1, but finished third for the same reason. The 4x100-meter relay team took third, as junior Kevin Carano, sophomore Chad Seiler, junior Darnell Hammock and freshman Chris Berrian finished in a season-best time of 41.20. Berrian also had personal-bests in the 200 and 400 meters as he crossed in sixth at 21.68 and fourth at 48.54. Also, seniors Duran Archie and Kyrah Ayers finished with silver and bronze medals in the long jump. Archie popped to 22-7, while Ayers landed at 22-5.
NCAA Provisional Marks
The squad had two NCAA provisional qualifiers. Mike Guidry marked at 184-1 in the discus and needed 196-10 to automatic. Finally, Kyle Carano has provisionally marked in the triple jump at 52-1, but needed 53-5 to automatic. Unfortunately, the men did not make the cut for selection.
On the Regular
The Bulldogs had a successful season both in dual meet and invitational competition. In both of the team's dual meet competitions, the 'Dogs finished in the top two, taking first in their only home meet and second at the Cal Poly Tri-meet. Capping the invitational portion was a second place crown at the Cal-Nevada Championships. Overall, two men set NCAA provisional marks prior to the WAC Championships, the discus and triple jump.
Goin' For Speed
Junior Alex Mason made the most of his junior year by improving all of his running times. He clocked a team-leading and personal-best 3:52.91 in the 1,500 meters. Senior Roosevelt Cook improved his 800 meter time to a near personal-best of 1:50.95, compared to 1:50.88. Junior Philip Ogilvie broke out in the steeplechase at WAC with an impressive team-best 9:19.53.
Here We Go Now, Jump
The triple jump was a consistent top notch performance area for the 'Dogs. The foursome of Archie, Ayers and the Carano brothers consistently did well in the long and triple jumps. Kyle Carano led the pack with his NCAA provisional mark of 52-1. He could ranked third in the WAC top performances. Archie was second in the WAC in the long jump and sixth in the triple jump, while Kevin Carano and Ayers follow in seventh and eighth in the triple.
Don't Look Down, Look Up
All eyes should be looking at the sky when the four throwers enter the stage. Sophomores Joe Vasquez and Shlomi Ben-Shushan, senior Mike Guidry and freshman Javon Kemp lead the Bulldogs in the throwing events. Vasquez has the honor in the shot put at 53-8.25. Guidry is the man in the discus at 184-1 a NCAA provisional. He won the event for two-straight competitions prior to WAC. Ben-Shushan is the leader in the hammer with a distance of 199-0 and Kemp owns a PR of 194-3.
A Head Above the Rest
A freshman pole vaulter by the name of Russell Weaver had the WAC on his shoulders. Weaver pole vaulted to a height of 16-0 on April 13, to take the reigns of the event. He led the WAC all season with the mark. WAC Champion and teammate, senior Mark Unzueta was close behind at second with a mark of 15-7 1/4.
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. He recently guided the women to the first ever WAC Outdoor Championship crown and was named WAC Women's Head Coach of the Year. Prior to his current engagement, Fraley was an assistant 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 Outdoor Leaders (As of May 20, 2002)
Event Athlete
100 Meters Darnell Hammock (10.59),Chad Seiler (10.65), Avedikian Autra (11.47) 200 Meters Chris Berrian (21.68), Chad Seiler (21.76), Darnell Hammock (22.01), Dwight Taylor (23.06) 400 Meters Chris Berrian(48.54), Dwight Taylor (50.58), Gabe Orosco (50.75), Rico Morales 50.64),Darnell Anderson (52.13) 800 Meters Roosevelt Cook (1:50.88), Alex Mason (1:51.23), Philip Ogilvie (1:55.09), Gabe Orosco (1:53.2), Joshua Foster (1:53.30) 1,500 Meters Alex Mason (3:52.91), Philip Ogilvie (3:54.26), Roosevelt Cook (3:57.82), Ryan Anderson (4:05.00) Steeplechase Phillip Ogilvie (9:19.53), Roberto Vaca (9:42.95), Ryan Ander son (9:37.32), Kyle Cirrincione (10:13.50), Curtis Barela (10:01.2), Marques Hicks (10:15.7) 5,000 Meters Robert Vaca (15:02.28), Kyle Cirrincione (15:08.18), Philip Ogilvie (15:12.06), Ryan Anderson (15:12.94), Alex Mason (15:35.70), Curtis Barela (16:22.83), Kevin Smith (16:20.94) Hurdles Josh Alfaro (110-14.90, 400-55.2), Justin Schwartz (110-16.0), David Cardoza (110-16.81, 400-1:03.99), Joshua Foster (400- 58.98), Marques Hicks (400-1:01.40) High Jump Josh Alfaro (6-4 1/4), Allen Mendrin (6-1 1/2), Dwight Taylor (5-10) Long Jump Duran Archie (23-7 1/4), Kyrah Ayers (23-4 1/4), Kyle Carano (22-3 1/2) Triple Jump Kyle Carano (52-1),Duran Archie (50-10 1/4), Kevin Carano (50-1 3/4), Kyrah Ayers (49-6 1/2) Pole Vault Russell Weaver (16-00), Mark Unzueta (15-7 1/4), Justin Schwartz (15-1 3/4), Leif McMurry (15-0), Paul Lim (13-7 1/4) Shot Put Joe Vasquez (53-8 1/4), Mike Guidry (52-6 1/2), Shlomi Ben- Shushan (50-8 1/2) Discus Mike Guidry (184-1), Joe Vasquez (169-7), Javon Kemp (156-8) Javelin Javon Kemp (194-3), Ryan Burgess (177-7), Allen Mendrin (172-6) Hammer Shlomi Ben-Shushan (199-0), Joe Vasquez (178-10) Italics: NCAA Provisional Marks
An Additional Meet
The 2002 Senior and Junior National Championships will be held at Stanford June 21-22, on Cobb Track and Angell Field. As part of the USA Track and Field Championships, the Junior Nationals features athletes who have not reached the age of 20 years and who have met certain qualifying standards. Two Bulldogs made the cut, including freshman Crystal Phillips and sophomore Kara June. Phillips qualified for both the 100 and 200-meter dashes, while June qualified in the 1,500, 3,000 and steeplechase. The team had two women qualify for the Senior Nationals with a "B" Standard. Senior Kayla Russum and junior Crystal Simmons made "B" marks in the triple and javelin events. The two will be entered into the meet if additional competitors are needed to meet the slated field size.
Team Banquet
Track and field held its annual banquet Tuesday, May 21. In addition to a total of 24 awards handed out, four new members were inducted into the Hall of Fame including Bob Stout, Merle Martin, Dick Vierra and Dave Casper. Simmons took home four awards, including the Captains Award, Outstanding Field Performer, High Point Woman and was the nomination for Fresno State Athlete of the Year. Sophomore Olga Gutierrez and senior Andrea Stelter won the Coaches Award. Freshman Ocie Parks was named Outstanding Freshman Performer. Russum earned the Outstanding Field Performer. June and Phillips received the Outstanding Track Performer honor and senior April Wiechmann took home the Herzog Track Woman of t he Year Award, which is given to the athlete who best represents the sport.
2002 WAC Champions- History Has Been Made
The Bulldogs dethroned the Owls of Rice from their two-year reign as the WAC Outdoor Champions and became the first women's team in Fresno State history to win a WAC outdoor crown. The fate of the meet came down to the final race, the 4x400-meter relay. The Bulldogs needed to place to win and they did just that. A fourth place finish was all it took to send the team home with the trophy. Along the way, head coach Bob Fraley was named Women's Head Coach of the Year for the WAC and Simmons was named Female High Point Winner. She was one of two Bulldogs to win individual crowns on the women's side. Simmons took the gold in the triple jump, while June was first in the steeplechase. June's time of 10:26.17 is a WAC and Fresno State record. This was her second-straight championship in the event. She is the only person to ever win the WAC crown in its two-year existence.
WAC Record
Kara June becomes the first record holder in the WAC since 1998, when Melissa Price did it in the pole vault. June owns the record in the steeplechase with her time of 10:26.17 earned along with her two-time WAC crown at the WAC Championships. In addition, she improved her WAC Championship record set last year and her Fresno State record.
NCAA Provisional Qualifiers
The squad had four NCAA provisional qualifiers. Simmons had the honor in both the triple and long jumps. Wiechmann did the job in the hammer, while senior Kayla Russum speared a 155-2 in the javelin and June clocked 10:26.17 in the steeplechase for the consideration. Unfortunately no one made the selection cut.
Danger, Simmons
Five events. Normally five events defines a pentathlete. However, the difference is junior Crystal Simmons does it her way. This season she competed in the triple, long and high jumps, the 100-meter hurdles and the 4x100-meter relay. And she does it with style. Her rainbow colored socks and wing-tipped spikes are giving life to her busy feet. She owns Bulldogs records in both the long and triple jumps, 20-5.20 and 42-10.25. The jumper was ranked 18th in the nation in the triple jump, according to the USATF.
Seven Days a Wiech(mann)
Senior April Wiechmann is also no stranger to competing in five events. However, she does it in the ring, on the runway and in the air. The thrower competes in the hammer, discus, javelin, shot put and high jump. Her personal-best hammer throw of 186-8 is a NCAA provisional mark, leads the team and is third in the WAC.
WAC Athletes of the Week
Fresno State had two Western Athletic Conference Athletes of the Week. Junior Crystal Simmons and freshman Crystal Phillips had the honor. Simmons earned the award after she was named Outstanding Female Performer of the 2002 Cal-Nevada Championships and Phillips took the honor for the week of March 18.
On the Regular
The Bulldogs had a successful season both in dual meet and invitational competition. In both of the team's dual meet competitions, the 'Dogs finished in the top two, taking first in their only home meet and second at the Cal Poly Tri-meet. Capping the invitational portion was a second place crown at the Cal-Nevada Championships. Overall, three women set NCAA provisional marks prior to the WAC Championships and two Fresno State records were set, the long jump and steeplechase.
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. He recently guided the women's team to its first ever WAC Outdoor championship and was named WAC Women's Head Coach of the Year. Prior to his current engagement, Fraley was an assistant coach for the women's team, including the 1994 Indoor 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 Outdoor Leaders (As of May 20, 2002)
Event Athlete
100 Meters Ocie Parks (11.72), Crystal Phillips (11.72), Taanasha Ricks (12.63) 200 Meters Crystal Phillips (24.04), Ocie Parks, (24.22)Crystal Simmons (24.58), Tiffany Simon (25.00), Raynisha Bragg (24.6), Katie Christianson (24.7) 400 Meters Tiffany Simon (55.22), Raynisha Bragg (56.5), Jennifer Tyler (58.78) 800 Meters Stacy Esquivel (2:13.32), Jennifer Tyler (2:15.2), Nicolin Neal (2:38.23), Megan Netzel (2:51.31) 1,500 Meters Kara June (4:38.27), Stacy Esquivel (4:42.07), Olga Gutierrez (4:51.11), Stacy Aurit (4:55.17), Andrea Osteen (5:44.44) 3,000 Meters Kara June (10:15.04), Nicolin Neal (10:54.83), Stacy Aurit (11:02.59) Steeplechase *Kara June (10:26.17), Nicolin Neal (11:24.81), Megan Netze; (14:17.11) 5,000 Meters Kara June (17:53.0), Olga Gutierrez (17:56.03), Andrea Osteen (21:01.99), Asusena Garcia (21:17.61) Hurdles Crystal Simmons (100-13.95), Katie Christianson (14.93), Domonique Harper (100-15.03, 400-1:13.12), Joni Landua (100-15.22, 400-1:04.4) High Jump Crystal Simmons (5-6), April Wiechmann (5-6), Jenny Moore (5-5.75), , Katie Christianson (5-3 3/4) Long Jump *Crystal Simmons (20-5 1/2), Katie Christianson (18-4 1/2) Jenny Moore (18-2 3/4) Triple Jump *Crystal Simmons(42-5 1/4), Jenny Moore (39-5) Pole Vault Bergann Hernandez(12-2), Leah Horowitz (11-2 1/4), Lexine Lesser (10-6 1/4) Shot Put Kristin Schelir (47-10 1/2), Andrea Stelter (45-00), April Wiechmann (44-2 1/4), Lisa Krauter (37-11) Discus April Wiechmann (162-5), Kristin Schelir (158-9), Christina Weaver (149-8), Lisa Krauter (148-7 3/4) Javelin Kayla Russum (155-2), April Wiechmann (144-0), Kristin Schelir (126-0) Hammer April Wiechmann (186-8), Andrea Stelter (181-11 3/4), Kristin Schelir (161-8), Christina Weaver (167-9) * Note: Simmons set the FS record in the long jump, while Kara June owns the steeplechase record with a time of 10:26.17. Italics: NCAA Provisional Marks
