Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Air Force Invitational
Rams go the distance at Air Force Invitational
2/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Indoor Track & Field
Feb. 16, 2009
By Matt Pucak
Athletic Media Relations
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - The longer the race, the more success the Colorado State indoor track team had at the Air Force Invitational last weekend, as CSU picked up seven first-place finishes in middle-distance and distance events. Those wins served as the highlights of a balanced CSU effort that impressed Head Coach Brian Bedard, even though the Rams came up short of winning the meet.
"We didn't win, but I thought that we competed very well," said Bedard. "Our middle-distance and distance runners were our strength, but I think we had a strong meet in several areas. In the jumping events we did a nice job and we got some good throws. It was a good team effort."
CSU was especially impressive in the 3,000 meters, winning the winning both the men's and women's races. Andrew Mauk won the men's event in 8 minutes, 54.04 seconds, followed by teammates Kip Taylor, Spenser Lynass and John O'Neil, who finished in third, fourth and fifth respectively. Nicole Peters won the women's 3,000-meter run in 10:31.28, while teammate Kendra Gerk took second and Michelle Dettmann grabbed fifth place. For good measure, freshman Margaret Wood won the unseeded 3,000-meter race.
The most dominant performance of the meet probably belonged to sophomore Allison Gohl in the women's 5,000 meters, as she won the event with a time of 18:24.57, over a minute faster than anyone else.
"It was great to see Allison Gohl, who has been injured, get back out there and run," said Bedard. "She ran away from everyone and lapped the entire field."
In the men's 800-meter run, junior Ryan Friese just edged out teammate Wil Buchanan for first place, clocking a time of 1:53.25. In the women's 800-meter run, Marissa Saunders finished third with a time of 2:19.30.
Senior Kristen Hemphill was victorious in the women's mile with a time of 5:18.57, while sophomore Damon Austin won the men's slack mile. Daniel Wallis and Colin Anderson also scored in the seeded men's mile.
CSU also had success in the throwing events, as seniors Alex Godell and Missy Faubus continued their impressive seasons. Faubus was the top collegiate finisher in the shot put with a 15.14-meter toss and Godell placed second in the weight throw (19.62 meters). In the women's weight toss, Faubus placed fourth (17.01 meters), followed by teammates Serena Johnson in fifth (16.9 meters) and Jennifer Ugochukwu (16.84 meters) in sixth, all three setting career highs. Tyson Williams set his personal best in the shot put at 16.88 meters, earning third place in the event.
In jumping events, the CSU recorded personal-best results from Doug Dieker (clearing 4.95 meters in the pole vault, good for sixth place), Ryan Billups (14.67 in the triple jump, good for fourth place) and Kevin Wills (2.00 meters in the high jump).
Junior sprinter/jumper Tanesha Johnson scored in two events for the Rams, finishing fourth in the 400 meters and fifth in the triple jump, while junior Meaghann Peak finished third in the triple jump.
The meet was delayed for three hours on Saturday due to a power outage, something that Bedard said should actually help his team down the road in case they experience any weather delays during the outdoor season.
With the Mountain West Conference championships less than two weeks away, Bedard will be taking a smaller group of athletes to this weekend's Robert Shine Invitational in Wyoming for a final tuneup.
