Sun Devils shine at USA Track & Field Championships
The first two days of competition at the 2010 USA Track & Field Championships came to a close June 25 inside Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, with several current and former members of the Arizona State University track and field program shining both on the blue oval and in the field, including a pair of Sun Devil sprinters that have advanced to the finals of their respective events just two weeks removed from the NCAA meet. In the first days of competition, 14 of the 20 athletes with ties to the ASU program have competed with five already having competed in the finals and four more advancing to the finals.
On Friday (June 25), freshman Keia Pinnick set the tone early as she was the top qualifier in the junior women’s 400m hurdles as she ran 58.83, making her the only runner to break 59 seconds while also meeting the World Junior Championships qualifying standard. Should Pinnick finish in the Top 2 of the finals on Saturday afternoon, she will advance to the world event in Moncton, Canada, for the meet July 19-25.
Donald Sanford also has been impressive over the first two days as the 2010 NCAA runner-up clocked in at 45.88 on Thursday in the 400m dash to rank 10th in the field and advance to the semifinals. One day later, he took the track and clocked in at 45.76 to finish fourth in his semifinal race and earn the final qualifying spot to the final.
Back in the women’s sprints, Jasmine Chaney also took care of business as she ran 13.37 (-2.2 wind) to finish 10th overall in the 100m hurdles and earned a place in the semifinal. Three other women’s sprinters have competed as well with one advancing in the rounds. Latosha Wallace, a 2007 All-American in the 400m hurdles for the Sun Devils, competed in her primary event and ran 58.48 to place 15th overall and earn a place in the semifinal. Dominique’ Maloy (18th, 54.24) and Charonda Williams (19th, 11.77) did not advance in the 400m dash and 100m dash, respectively.
In the only field event contested so far with a Sun Devil entered, Jason Lewis, who recently earned All-America honors in the shot put, discus and hammer at the NCAA Championships, placed fifth overall in the discus as he recorded a toss of 58.52m (192-00). Back on the track, Lewis’ fellow graduating senior teammate Brandon Bethke competed in the final of the 5,000m run and placed seventh overall in 14:02.08.
The first finals involving Sun Devils took place on Thursday night in the 10,000m run with one man and two women competing. In the men’s race, Fasil Bizuneh, an All-American in the 10,000m on the track and in cross country for ASU, finished ninth overall in 29:33.17. On the women’s side, a pair of Team USA members placed in the Top 5 as Desiree Davila took third in 32:22.32 and Amy Hastings was fifth in 32:49.07.
In the 3,000m steeplechase, three Sun Devils competed with two advancing to the final. In the women’s event, Lisa Aguilera, the former American record holder in the event, ran 10:02.75 to record the second-fastest time overall and move on to the final. In the men’s race on Friday, Kyle Alcorn, who owns the stadium record in the event from when he won the 2008 NCAA title, finished eighth overall in 8:45.86 to reach the final. Aaron Aguayo, the only four-time Pac-10 Champion in the steeplechase, also competed, but did not finish the race.
Results for the meet, as well links to the live web streaming courtesy of runnerspace.com, can be found at usatf.org. Both ESPN and NBC also will be providing live coverage on Saturday from 10-11:30 am (Arizona time) and NBC will follow from noon to 1 pm (Arizona time) before both networks duplicate their time slots once again on Sunday.
Sun Devils at the USA Track & Field Championships
Day 1 Results (June 24)
Women’s Steeplechase - 1st Round
2. Lisa Aguilera - 10:02.75 - advances to final
Women’s 400m Dash - 1st Round
18. Dominique’ Maloy - 54.24 - does not advance
Men’s 400m Dash - 1st Round
10. Donald Sanford - 45.88 - advances to semifinal
Women’s 100m Dash - 1st Round
19. Charonda Wallace - 11.77 (-2.4) - does not advance
Men’s 10,000m Run - FINAL
9. Fasil Bizuneh - 29:33.17
Women’s 10,000m Run - FINAL
3. Desiree Davila - 32:22.32
5. Amy Hastings - 32:49.07
Day 2 Results (June 25)
Junior Women’s 400m Hurdles - 1st Round
1. Keia Pinnick - 58.83 - advances to final
Men’s Steeplechase - 1st Round
8. Kyle Alcorn - 8:45.86 - advances to final
-- Aaron Aguayo - did not finish
Women’s 100m Hurdles - 1st Round
10. Jasmine Chaney - 13.37 (-2.2) - advances to semifinal
Men’s Discus - FINAL
5. Jason Lewis - 58.52m (192-00)
Women’s 400m Hurdles - 1st Round
15. Latosha Wallace - 58.48 - advances to semifinal
Men’s 400m Dash - Semifinal
8. Donald Sanford - 45.76 - advances to final
Men’s 5,000m Run - FINAL
7. Brandon Bethke - 14:02.08
Remaining Schedule
Saturday, June 26 - all times are Central (two hours ahead of Arizona)
12:15 pm - Senior Women’s Shot Put - Final (Sarah Stevens, Anna Jelmini)
1:15 pm - Senior Women’s 100m Hurdles - Semifinal (Jasmine Chaney)
2:44 pm - Senior Men’s 400m Dash - Final (Donald Sanford)
2:52 pm - Senior Women’s 100m Hurdles - Final (Jasmine Chaney)
3:35 pm - Junior Women’s 400m Hurdles - Final (Keia Pinnick)
4:30 pm - Senior Women’s 200m Dash - First Round (Charonda Williams)
Sunday, June 27 - all times are Central (two hours ahead of Arizona)
12:00 pm - Senior Men’s Shot Put - Final (Ryan Whiting)
12:15 pm - Senior Women’s 200m Dash - Semifinal (Charonda Williams)
12:20 pm - Senior Women’s Discus - Final (Anna Jelmini)
12:30 pm - Senior Men’s Long Jump - Final (Dwight Phillips, Trevell Quinley)
12:50 pm - Senior Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase - Final (Kyle Alcorn)
1:15 pm - Senior Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase - Final (Lisa Aguilera)
2:30 pm - Senior Women’s 200m Dash - Final (Charonda Williams)