May 1, 2010

Results

STANFORD, Calif. - Senior Sirena Williams finished first in the 100-meter hurdles, senior Kaitlin Gregg had a big PR in the 5,000, senior Anikia Jackson had strong showings in both the hurdles and long jump, and Jonathan Peterson lowered his school record in the 5,000, as UC Davis faced tough fields at the Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford on Saturday.

Additionally, Jonathan Sees moved to No. 3 all-time in the 1,500 with his second straight career performance.

Those performances were among the highlights for the Aggies who continue to set themselves up for the Big West Conference Championships in two weeks. Saturday's meet at Stanford provided a strong mix of collegiate and elite athletes from across the country.

Williams, the school record-holder in the short hurdles, was a convincing winner in the event on Saturday, crossing in 13.84 seconds, well ahead of runner-up Gina Deckard of Nevada who was timed in 14.22. It was the fourth race Williams has won this spring. The race was also a good one for Jackson, who nicked .01 of a second off her personal-best to finish in 14.60 seconds and move into a tie for eighth all-time at UC Davis with current teammate Kayla Carter.

Jackson, a talented heptathlete, also had a big day in the long jump, going into a headwind to post a mark of 19 feet, 5.25 inches which vaulted her all the way to No. 4 all-time at UC Davis after not being on the list prior. She finished third in the event at Stanford.

Gregg went 16:40.75 in the 5,000 earlier this season at the Sun Angel Classic at Arizona State but went under that by a sizeable 19 seconds on Saturday, placing 17th in her tough section in 16:21.99. The time moved her up a spot on the Aggies' career list to No. 2, passing former great Patti Gray who went 16:34.87 in 1987. Current assistant coach Kim Conley is the program's record-holder at 16:17.51 which she established last season.

Sarah Sumpter also finished well in her section of the 5,000, timed in 16:52.65, a PR that solidified her No. 8 spot all-time.

The Aggie women also got strong marks on the track from Kiara Reed in the 800 and Shanie Landen in the 400. Reed had a two-second PR on Saturday, placing fifth in her section in 2:09.78 and debuting her on UC Davis' career list at No. 5. Landen finished fourth in the 400 in 56.31, a mark good enough to put her 10th all-time at UC Davis.

In the steeple, Caitlin Fitzgerald was eighth in 10:39.30, a nice PR of six seconds that moved her into second past teammate Alison Stoakley who also had a PR while crossing in 10:42.40.

In the field, junior Ashley Hearn had a career-best in the discus for the second straight week, placing second at 166-8, an improvement of more than three feet from the 163-3 she had last week at Cal. She remained No. 3 on the Aggies' career ledger, just behind Sarah Oesch who went 167-1 in 1999.

Peterson set the school record in the 5,000 earlier this season at Stanford at 14:09.23, and racing in a tough field at the Cardinal's track again, he cut another six seconds from the mark, finishing in 14:03.25. The mark will help him move up in the regional rankings with the postseason not far away.

Sees also helped spark the UC Davis men at the meet, posting a PR in the 1,500 to jump two spots to No. 3 all-time. He entered the weekend No. 5 on the list after finishing in 3:48.41 at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational last weekend at Cal, and then went even faster this weekend at Stanford, winning his heat in 3:47.70. He went past teammates Peterson (3:48.26) and Russell Pfaff (3:48.08) and just behind Mark McManus (3:47.56, 1997) who is second.

Polly Gnepa (14.15) was second in the 110 high hurdles, Ray Green was third in both the long jump (23-2) and triple jump (48-2.75) and Ed Orgon was second in the shot put (53-10.5).

UC Davis returns to action next weekend at the Sacramento State Open. The Aggies' mult-event athletes will head to the Big West Multi Championships during the next week as well, looking to give UC Davis a strong start to the upcoming conference meet.

PAYTON JORDAN CARDINAL INVITATIONAL
Stanford, Calif.
UC Davis results only

WOMEN
100 - 1. Carissa Levingston, Stanford, 11.70... 6. Melanise Chapman, 12.21.
200 - 1. Sarah Matthew, Stanford, 23.41... 8. Melanise Chapman, 25.01; 12. Anikia Jackson, 25.83.
400 - 1. Maggie Vessey, New Balance, 54.02... 4. Shanie Landen, 56.31.
800 (sect. 2) - 1. Sofia Oberg, Cal, 2:05.27... 6. Lauren Wallace, 2:09.24. (sect. 3) - 1. Amanda Mergaert, Utah, 2:07.99... 5. Kiara Reed, 2:09.78
1500 (sect. 4) - 1. Kris Paaso, New Balance, 4:34.46... 4. Kristin Arkin, 4:39.45; 8. Abigail Gallaher, 4:42.56.
5000 (sect. 2) - 1. Shayla Houlihan, unattached, 15:56.54... 17. Kaitlin Gregg, 16:21.99. (sect. 3) - 1. Ari Fisher, Toledo, 16:24.27... 6. Sarah Sumpter, 16:52.65; 13. Krista Drechsler, 17:13.37.
Steeple - 1. Rebeka Stowe, Kansas, 10:15.92... 8. Caitlin Fitzgerald, 10:39.30; 10. Alison Stoakley, 10:42.40.
100H - 1. Sirena Williams, UC Davis, 13.84... 5. Anikia Jackson, 14.60; 6. Chelsea Azevedo, 14.70; 7. Kayla Carter,m 14.76; 10. Suzanne Howard, 15.05; 11. Ofunne Okwudiafor, 15.22.
LJ - 1. Becky Abdulai, Nik,e 6.38 (20-11.25)... 3. Anikia Jackson, 5.92 (19-05.25); 7. Stephanie Eckels, 5.58 (18-3.75); T8. Sirena Williams, 5.38 (17-8.0); 10. Kayla Green, 5.35 (17-6.75).
TJ - 1. Erica McLain, unattached, 14.02 (46-0.0)... 4. Stephanie Eckels, 11.81 (38-9.0); 6. Kayla Green, 11.68 (38-4.0); 7. Ofunne Okwudiafor, 11.51 (37-9.25).
HJ - 1. Kristen Meister, Cal, 1.75 (5-8.75)... T5. Carrington Mahr, 1.60 (5-3.0).
PV - 1. Katerina Stefanidi, Stanford, 4.23 (13-10.5)... 10. Lauren Radke, 3.47 (11-4.5); Tessa Fraser, NH.
SP - 1. Chid Onyewuenyi, unattached, 14.93 (48-11.75)... 4. Ashley Hearn, 13.28 (43-7); 9. Hannah Royall, 12.28 (40-3.5).
DT - 1. Kimberley Gleeson, unattached, 55.59 (182-4)... 2. Ashley Hearn, 50.79 (166-8).
JT - 1. Elizabeth Minoofar, Stanford, 45.07 (147-10)... 6. Brittany Bickel, 37.34 9122-6).
HT - 1. Jaynie Goodbody, Stanford, 59.97 (196-9)... 8. Ashley Hearn, 48.43 (158-11); 10. Hannah Royal, 43.53 (142-10).

MEN
100 - 1. Daniel Belch, Stanford, 10.71... 8. Josh Fuchs, 11.15; 10. Robert Neely, 11.28; 11. Kaio Sena, 11.30.
200 - 1. Daniel Belch, Stanford, 21.57... 6. Josh Fuchs, 22.21.
800 (sect. 4 ) - 1. Andrew Graham, Adams State, 1:49.50... 6. Ben Johnson, 1:52.28.
110HH - 1. Tim Bogdanof, unattached, 13.93... 2. Polly Gnepa, 14.15; 6. Nolan Frazier, 15.29.
400H - 1. Amaechi Morton, 50.03... 4. Thomas Phillips, 52.69; 5. Nolan Frazier, 55.17; 6. jeffery Campbell, 55.36.
1500 (sect. 4) - 1. Jonathan Sees, UC Davis, 3;47.70.
5000 - 1. Jory Zunich, Iowa State, 13:58.10... 7. Jonathan Peterson, 14:03.25... Kyle Suarez, DNF.
Steeple - 1. Matt Brunsting, Speed River TV, 8:44.68... 19. Russell Pfaff, 9:16.05.
LJ - 1. Robert Peddlar, Michigan, 7.36 (24-01.75)... 3. Ray Green, 7.06 (23-2.0); 5. Will Guthrie, 6.80 (22-03.75); 7. Robert Neely, 6.78 (22-3.0). TJ - 1. Nkosinza Bulumbu, unattached, 16.13 (52-11.00)... 3. Ray Green,
14.70 (48-2.75); 4. Igor Seriba, 14.68 (48-2.0).
HJ - 1. Ed Wright, unattached, 2.15 (7-0.5)... Ross Tate, NH.
PV - 1. Casey Roche, Stanford, 5.20 (17-00.75).... T5. Michael Peterson, 4.90 (16-00.75); 8. Daniel Turvey, 4.90 (16-00.75).
SP - 1. Patrick Kowalsky, Cal, 17.13 (56-2.5)... 2. Ed Orgon, 16.42 (53-10.5); 4. Blake Asbill, 15.10 (49-6.5).
DT - 1. Marti Maric, unattached, 61.22 (201-2)... 6. Jake Fuller, 44.99 (147-7); 7. Ed Orgon, 44.19 (145-0).
JT - 1. Robert Hintz, Stanford, 59.65 (195-8)... 2. Matt Roberts, 52.11 (170-11).
HT - 1. Nick Welihozkly, RMP Throwing, 68.26 (223-11)... 10. Jake Fuller, 44.96 (147-6); Ed Orgon, Foul.