Phillips returns to the top as ASU claims two more titles

Dwight Phillips returned to the top of the standings in the long jump, Kyle Alcorn punched his ticket to his first international team event and Anna Jelmini completed her sweep of the junior throwing events as the third day of action for the Arizona State University track and field program came to a close on Saturday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Phillips and Alcorn both earned spots on Team USA for the upcoming IAAF World Championships in Berlin (August 15-23) while Jelmini, an incoming freshman, earned a spot on the Junior Pan American Championships team in a second event.

Phillips, with a leap of 28-01.50 (8.57m), won his fourth outdoor national title after winning the meet in 2003, 2004 and 2007 and will look to capture his fourth World title in the long jump after claiming the gold at the 2004 Olympics as well as the 2003 and 2005 World Championships. Phillips was one of three Sun Devils in the event as Matt Turner took seventh overall at 26-05.00 (8.05m) and Trevell Quinley was tied for 17th at 24-11.75 (7.61m).

While Phillips will be representing the U.S. on the world stage once again, Kyle Alcorn, the 2008 NCAA champion in the steeplechase, will be wearing the red, white and blue uniform for the first time as he took the third and final automatic berth in the event. Alcorn ran 8:34.65 to finish third overall and was the first of three former Sun Devils to finish in the Top 8 as Ryan Warrenburg was seventh in 8:43.91 and Aaron Aguayo was eighth in 8:44.01.

Jelmini, one day after winning the junior shot put crown and two days removed from a seventh-place showing in the senior division, was back in the circle as she competed in the junior discus and won her second title. Jelmini’s winning toss measured 174-10 (53.30m) and places her on Team USA for the Junior Pan American Championships in a second event. Also competing in the men’s junior discus was Jordan Clarke, who took fourth with a toss of 191-3 (58.30m).

In preliminary action of the 200m dash, two Sun Devils advanced to the semifinals of the women’s event, including Charonda Williams, who won the third heat of the event with a school-record time of 22.65, lowering her previous best of 22.71. Also in the event was Dominique’ Maloy, who equalled her personal best and the sixth-best time in ASU history by running 23.28 to take the 16th and final qualifying spot.

Latosha Wallace competed in the final of the women’s 400m hurdles and placed seventh in 57.47 while Jason Lewis rounded out the Sun Devils in action on Saturday by taking 13th in the hammer with a toss of 216-8 (66.05m).

Slated to compete in Sunday, the final day of the championships, will be Sarah Stevens in the women’s hammer throw; Williams and Maloy in the 200m dash; Ryan Whiting and Clarke in the men’s senior shot put and Lisa Galaviz in the women’s senior steeplechase.

2009 USA Senior/Junior Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Day 3 (Saturday, June 27)
Women’s Junior Discus - Final
1. Anna Jelmini - 53.30m (174-10) - advances to Junior Pan-Am meet

Men’s Junior Discus - Final
4. Jordan Clarke - 58.30m (191-03)

Women’s Senior 200m Dash - First Round
3. Charonda Williams - 22.65 - school record and advances to semifinal
16. Dominique’ Maloy - 23.28 - advances to semifinal

Women’s Senior 400m Hurdles - Final
7. Latosha Wallace - 57.47

Men’s Senior 3,000m Steeplechase - Final
3. Kyle Alcorn - 8:34.65 - advances to World Championships
7. Ryan Warrenburg - 8:43.91
8. Aaron Aguayo - 8:44.01

Men’s Senior Hammer Throw - Final
13. Jason Lewis - 66.05m (216-08)

Men’s Senior Long Jump - Final
1. Dwight Phillips - 8.57m (28-01.50) - advances to World Championships
7. Matt Turner - 8.05m (26-05.00)
17. Trevell Quinley - 7.61m (24-11.75)