Colorado State University Athletics
CSU track and field finds success at Front Range Classic
5/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Outdoor Track & Field
May 2, 2009
By Matt Pucak
Athletic Media Relations
BOULDER, Colo. – The weather has refused to cooperate with the CSU track and field team this season, as tough conditions have flared up all over the country for the Rams this spring, but despite the difficulties, the team continues to perform well.
The women took first place and the men finished second Saturday at the Front Range Classic, which was hosted by Colorado.
In total, the Rams won 12 of the 38 events and despite facing the cold and damp conditions, they came out with the correct attitude according to Head Coach Brian Bedard.
“The weather is starting to wear on the coaches and the staff a bit, but everyone came out with a good attitude today,” said Bedard. “I didn’t hear any complaints. I guess that it is a good thing, especially since the conference tournament is in Wyoming this year, and the odds are we won’t have good weather up there for all four days of competition.”
With the full squad together for one of the first times this season, the Rams came up with some impressive performances.
CSU got two new NCAA regional qualifiers in the 1,500 meters, as Wil Buchanan won the very competitive race with a time of 3 minutes, 50.09 seconds, and Jeremy Freed took fourth with a time of 3:52.78. Buchanan previously qualified in the 800 meters,but with the addition of Freed the Rams now have 14 athletes who have qualified for the regional meet.
As is often the case, the Rams were very strong in throwing competitions.
In the men’s shot put CSU swept the top three spots. Tyson Williams won with a toss of 53 feet, 1.50 inches, Ian Lettow came in second (52-8) and Jeff Horinek placed third (50-6.25). Horinek also added a second-place finish in the discus, earning praise from the coaches.
Missy Faubus continued her impressive season, picking up a first-place finish in the shot put (48-10.75), a second-place finish in the discus (158-5) and a second-place finish in the hammer throw (174-6).
Meagan Berg, Serena Johnson and Leah Elmshauser placed third, fourth and fifth, respectively, behind Faubus in the hammer throw, giving the Rams four athletes in the top five of the event.
Rounding out the successful throwing day was a second-place finish in the men’s weight toss for Alex Godell.
Another standout mentioned by the coaches was Doug Dieker, who finished first in the pole vault at 16.75 feet.
“Doug Dieker had a school-record vault of 17 feet, but when he got off the mat and started celebrating, the bar fell,” said Bedard. ”It was ruled that it didn’t count, and that was pretty disappointing.”
Joining Buchanan as an 800-meter regional qualifier is Ryan Friese, who continued to impress by winning the event in a time of 1:50.97.
Pulling in two first-place finishes for the Rams was Tanesha Johnson, in the triple jump (39-2.25) and the 100 meters (12.07).
Also winning events for CSU were the men’s 4x100 relay (Brian Fox, Keenan Ballage, Sulaiman Sayyid and Josh Murphy), the men’s 4x400 relay (Nigel Joseph, Fox, Buchanan and Friese), Jennifer Lehman (women’s high jump), Caston Mabin (men’s high jump) and Ellie Rastall (1,500 meters).
CSU’s next action will be in its final home meet of the season as the Rams will welcome several local teams to the Jack Christiansen Track on May 9 for the Ram Open.