April 25, 2008
Complete Results
DAVIS, Calif. - The Sacramento State men edged UC Davis by less than a second in the meet-concluding 4x400-meter relay as the Hornets beat the Aggies 97-95 in the fourth annual Causeway Classic Track and Field dual held at Woody Wilson Track on Friday evening. The Hornet women also posted a victory, beating the Aggies 110-82.
Tyriena Henley-Henderson and Lori Vaught each won two events to pace Sacramento State with Henley Henderson capturing the 200 (24.44) and 400 (55.59) races and Vaught finishing first in both the long jump (18 feet, 11.25 inches) and the triple jump (40-2).
Nicole Theus broke her own school record in the 100 for UC Davis, winning the event in 11.86 seconds, under her previous best of 11.92 set last season at the Division I Independent Championships. Sirena Williams continued her impressive performances as of late, winning the 100 hurdles in 13.80 - the fastest time ever by an Aggie - and under her school record of 13.96 set last weekend at the Woody Wilson Classic. However, wind readings were not available, keeping her school record at 13.96.
The Aggie men trailed 67-51 through 11 events before rallying with wins in the triple jump, high jump, 3,000 and discus to tie the score 81-81. The teams were later tied 92-92 but the Hornets rallied to win the 4x400 in 3:12.24, just ahead of the Aggies who crossed in 3:13.22 after an exciting race.
Jah Bennett added an NCAA regional qualifying mark for the UC Davis men, winning the high jump at 6-10.75 and giving him a season-best by two inches.
Both Sacramento State teams won for the second consecutive year. The men's competition was close for the second time in the past three seasons after the teams tied in 2006, also at UC Davis.
Each men's team won nine events in Friday's matchup with Jonathan Peterson and Matt Swarbrick both providing a pair of wins for UC Davis. Peterson won a difficult double for the Aggies, finishing first in both the 1,500 (3:50.37) and the 3,000 (8:20.80) while Swarbrick won the discus (172-09) and hammer throw (166-06). Peterson's time in the 3,000 bumped him from No. 4 to No. 2 on the program's all-time performer's list while teammate K.C. Cody, who was second in the race in 8:24.85, is now No. 6.
Other wins for UC Davis came from Polly Gnepa in the 100 high hurdles (14.18), Thomas Phillips in the 400 hurdles (54.09), Tolu Wusu in the triple jump (48-2.5) and Joseph Crummett in the shot put (51-1).
Jody Johnson won both short sprints for Sacramento State, the only double-winner for the Hornets. He was timed in a season-best tying 10.49 in the 100 before crossing in 21.06 to win the 200. Sacramento State also won the 4x100 relay.
Theus and Williams helped headline the Aggie women's efforts on Friday night. UC Davis had six event wins overall, including by Kim Conley in the 1,500 (4:26.42), Kaitlin Gregg in the 3,000 (9:49.70), Ashley Hearn in the discus 140-3) and from the 4x100 relay which posted a come-from-behind victory in 46.36. Gregg is now No. 10 on the career list after her winning time.
Katie Maltester and Natalie Russell had strong races for UC Davis in the 400 hurdles, finishing second and third, respectively. Maltester's time of 1:02.85 debuted her at No. 8 all-time at UC Davis while Russell (1:02.48) climbed a spot to No. 10.
UC Davis returns to action on May 4 at the Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford.
