FULLERTON — It was a day of personal success for several Long Beach State track and field athletes Saturday as the 49ers opened up the 2009 outdoor season.
Although the Ben Brown Invitational did not have a lot up for stake, many athletes still broke personal records.
Throws
Junior Colin Dunbar improved his lifetime best in the men’s hammer throw invitational by more than five feet. He placed fifth with a 54.86 meter throw.
Dunbar’s classmate Gabe Rodriguez was the top thrower for the men’s team. Rodriguez placed first in the men’s javelin, recording a 60.4 throw.
Throwers coach Cory Loebl felt the meet had a relaxed atmosphere, but was impressed by his throwers.
“For us to do a lot of personal bests at the beginning of the year is really good,” Loebl said. “It shows that we are ready to compete.”
For the women’s throwers, senior Jennifer Onyeagbako continued her impressive career by winning both the women’s discus (44-05.50) and shot put (161-06).
Freshman Destanie Yarbrough also set a personal record in the hammer (43.87) and the discus (39.88).
Jumps
In other field events, senior Tiana Johnson was the top leaper for LBSU in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 37-03.00. Johnson’s classmate Rodney Hawkins placed fourth in the men’s triple jump (47-08.00).
Katelyn Beighton tied for fourth in the pole vault at 11-07.75. Beighton’s jump was the ninth-best mark in school history.
Distances
On the track, the top distance runner of the day was senior Carly Harris. She broke her original qualifying mark in the women’s 5,000-meter run.
Harris placed fourth with a time of 16:45.60. Assistant distance coach Steve Cardinalli said it was the “race of her life.”
In the women’s 800 run invitational, Ejiro Okoro was the top collegiate runner at 2:14.95.
Sprints
Senior Austin Fowler qualified for conference in the 100 and 200. Fowler placed sixth in the men’s 100 meter dash invitational (10.73) and fourth in the 200 (21.65).
Freshman Ashley Campbell came in second in the women’s 200 with a time of 24.79.
Assistant coach Jessica Branker was happy with the sprinters, but feels there is always room for improvement.
“It was a good starting point,” Branker said. “We’re moving in the right direction.”
Hurdles
Sophomore Nimrod Piggee set a new personal record in the men’s 400-meter hurdles invitational with a time of 56.26 seconds. Piggee also recorded a third-place run in the 110 hurdles (15.04).
Next up for The Beach
LBSU will continue its outdoor season March 20 and 21 at the USC Invitational.
Track and field is doing very well…nice that its being reported.