Track and Field Puts Finishing Touches On 2003-04 Campaign

June 14, 2004

2004 NCAA Championship Qualifiers

Competitor   Yr  Hometown   Event..Personal-BestJoe Vasquez  Sr. Selma, Calif.  Discus..177-11 (54.24m)

at 2004 NCAA Championships on June 11:
24th in prelims -- 171-8 (52.32m) Joe Vasquez Sr. Selma, Calif. Hammer..206-7 (62.97m)
at 2004 NCAA Championships on June 10:
26th in prelims -- 191-4 (58.31m) Kara June Sr. Santa Maria, Calif. Steeplechase..10:15.22
at 2004 NCAA Championships on June 10:
15th in prelims -- 10:27.56 Mallory Webb Fr. Dundee, Ore. Javelin..162-10 (49.64m)
at 2004 NCAA Championships on June 9:
9th in prelims -- 153-4 (46.75m)
at 2004 NCAA Championships on June 11:
7th in national finals -- 162-10 (49.64m)

MEN'S TEAM
Vasquez Represents Bulldogs At NCAA Championships
Senior Joe Vasquez was Fresno State's only athlete on the men's side to appear at the 2004 NCAA Championships, as he automatically qualified in the discus and earned an at-large bid in the hammer. Vasquez, competing in the national meet for the first time, finished 24th in the discus throw with a toss of 171-8 (52.32m). In the hammer, he took 26th with a 191-4 (58.31m) showing. The performances made for somewhat of a bittersweet ending to a tremendous Bulldog career. Vasquez, who owned the team's best mark via personal-bests in all four field events during 2004, qualified for NCAA Regional action last year in the discus and the hammer.

Regional Rundown
Joe Vasquez automatically qualified for NCAA Championships when he recorded a fifth-place finish in the discus with a toss of 174-9 (53.26m). Vasquez finished 18th in the hammer, yet managed to qualify for the national meet via an at-large berth. Russell Weaver tied for fifth place in the pole vault with Cal Poly's Jon Takahashi, who was awarded the tiebreaker after winning an hour-long jump-off. Both athletes reached 17-3 (5.26m). Chris Berrian ran a 21.17 in the 200-meter finals to take sixth overall. Ryan Moore was 19th in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 53.72, while Adam Andresen registered a no-height in the pole vault.

'Dogs Take Fourth At WAC Outdoor Championships
Fresno State took fourth overall with 122 points, checking in behind champion Rice (200), UTEP (147) and Boise State (123). Russell Weaver captured his second straight pole vaulting title- the only event winner on the men's side. Chris Berrian ran a personal-best 21.08 in the prelims of the 200-meter run to garner an NCAA Regional berth, while Ryan Moore did the same with a career-best 52.16 in the 400-meter hurdles to finish second overall. Berrian added another personal-best in the 400-meter run, clocking in at 47.74 to take third. Sean Marzolf was fifth in the 800-meter run with a season-best 1:51.15. Those efforts, along with Bulldog athletes holding down the 2-3-6-7 spots in the decathlon, kept Fresno State in contention.

Weaver Adds Another Conference Crown
Russell Weaver captured his second straight outdoor conference pole vault crown at this year's WAC Championships, giving him a total of four during his career. Weaver advanced to NCAA West Regional competition for the second consecutive season, and also established a personal-best mark of 17-4.50 (5.30m) in a tri-meet with Cal Poly and Cal State Northridge back on May 1.

First-Year Forces
Newcomers that owned the top mark in their respective events included: Sean Marzolf (1:51.02 in the 800-meter run and 8:39.50 in the 3,000-meter run), Ryan Moore (52.16 in the 400-meter hurdles), Robert Calzadilla (23-4 in the long jump and 45-9.25 in the triple jump) and Dionte Holloway (6-8 in high jump).

WOMEN'S TEAM
Webb Places Seventh In NCAA Javelin Finals; Earns All-America Honors
In her NCAA debut, freshman Mallory Webb became Fresno State's first female All-American since 1999 when she tallied a personal-best throw of 162-10 (49.64m) to place seventh in the national javelin finals. With the top-eight finish, Webb was granted All-America status. Webb, whose previous best stood at 157-3 (47.92m), now ranks seventh in the Bulldog record books. Webb- the only freshman in the finals- became the first track and field athlete to earn All-America honors since 2001, when Ryan Beckenhauer was awarded the same designation in the shot put. She is the first female track and field athlete honored since 1999, when Melissa Price placed sixth in the pole vault. Webb reached the finals by placing ninth in the qualifying round, throwing 153-4 (46.75m). In 2003-04, Webb threw 150-0 or better eight different times and had six first-place finishes to her credit.

June A Near Miss For NCAA Steeplechase Finals
Senior Kara June finished two seconds away from a berth in the national women's steeplechase finals at the 2004 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, ultimately closing out a stellar Bulldog career. June, a four-time WAC champion and Fresno State record holder, ran a 10:27.56 to place 15th overall in an event where only the top-14 finishers advance. June, who also qualified for the 2003 NCAA Championships via an at-large entry and finished 21st overall, received an at-large berth this year after recording a personal-best time of 10:15.22 back on Apr. 17 at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays. She also established a new conference meet record with a 10:23.61 showing on May 15 at the WAC Outdoor Championships. June, who is considered a pioneer of the steeplechase, ran three races under the 10:25.00 mark in 2004 and took seventh overall at NCAA West Regionals.

Regional Rundown
Kara June took seventh in the steeplechase, clocking in at 10:17.74. Mallory Webb placed 17th in the javelin at 141-4 (43.09m), while La' Sha Hill was 20th in the shot put at 44-9.50 (13.65m). In the discus, Hill established a personal-best with a 155-07 (47.42m). Lexine Lesser tallied a personal-best 12-10 (3.91m) to take 10th. Samantha Modeste established a career-best with a 12-4 (3.76m) to tie for 14th place, along with Annie Malaythong. Michelle Lennox reached 11-10 (3.61m). Zinzi Evans ran a 2:10.91 in the prelims of the 800-meter run, while Katie Richardson was 14th in the discus with a 155-10 (47.51m) toss.

Fifth Place The Spot At WAC Outdoor Championships
The Bulldogs took fifth overall with 68 points, while Rice captured the crown by edging Louisiana Tech. Kara June established a new WAC-meet record in the steeplechase, winning gold. La'Sha Hill threw a personal-best 148-1 (45.15m) in the hammer. Mallory Webb took third in the javelin at 150-4 (45.82m), while Katie Richardson was third in the discus at 159-1 (48.49). Michelle Lennox and Annie Malaythong tied for second overall with personal-best marks of 12-9.50 (3.90m). Samantha Modeste became a NCAA Regional qualifiers, notching a 12-3.50.

Bob Fraley Named 2003 USOC Developmental Coach of the YearFresno State Director of Track and Field Bob Fraley was awarded the 2003 U.S. Olympic Committee's Developmental Coach Of the Year honor on May 2 at the USOC's annual Coach of the Year recognition dinner. Fraley, the recipient of USA Track and Field's 2003 Nike Coach of the Year honor last December, was one of three coaches recognized during Sunday evening's dinner at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs.

Fresno State Athletics

Track and Field Puts Finishing Touches On 2003-04 Campaign

Related News

Players Mentioned

Robert Calzadilla

Zinzi Evans

La'Sha Hill

Lexine Lesser

Annie Malaythong

Sean Marzolf

Samantha Modeste

Ryan Moore

Katie Richardson

Russell Weaver

Mallory Webb

Related Videos