Martinez moves on to NCAA Championship
Highlanders send 11 to Oregon, Martinez wins in 1500 meter
Brian Ensman
Issue date: 6/2/09 Section: Sports
The Highlander women's track team had their best ever finish at the NCAA West Regional this past weekend. Junior Brenda Martinez led the team with her win in the 1500m race. Her time of 4:22.16 wasn't her best time in the event, but it was enough to snatch the win.
Last year, her time of 4:17.09 was only good enough for third place. Her best ever finish was 4:13.58, which she ran a month ago.
The win helped the women's team to a 14th place finish, their best ever. In all, 11 different Highlanders traveled to Eugene, Oregon for the competition.
The men's team also had several competitors led by sophomore Chad Hall. Hall, also running the 1500m, finished sixth with a time of 3:44.12. The men finished the weekend's events in 25th place.
Juniors Lauren Reid and Allison Wilder competed in the triple jump. Reid finished seventh with a distance of 12.73 meters. Wilder finished out of the points, a 13th place finish and a distance of 12.32 meters. The top eight finishers in a given event earn points toward a team score. The two switched places from last year's meet, when Wilder finished eighth and Reid finished 20th.
Senior Ashley Williams finished sixth in the 800 meter race with a time of 2:09.69.
Neither Hall nor Williams still have a shot at joining Martinez in the NCAA Championships to be held in Arkansas on June 10-12.
Originally, they awaited the decisions of athletes with times above them about which events in which to participate.
It is not uncommon for a qualifier in an event to choose to focus to not race that one in a later meet.
On Friday, senior Danielle Evans competed in the 1500 meter preliminaries along with Martinez. Evans failed to reach the finals, recording a time of 4:33.97.
Senior Pedro Ramos also competed in the 1500, but he failed to make the finals finishing in last place in his preliminary.
Other Highlander performances were not as good. Senior Ulices Pina was the last runner to cross the finish line in the 5000 meter race. Senior Uchechi Egeonuigwe failed to advance to the finals of the 400 meter hurdles.
The women's 4x400 meter relay was back to top form with their normal anchor returning. With a substitute at the Big West Championships two weeks ago, they finished second. On Saturday, they lost three seconds on their time and were the last team to cross the finish line.
For now the qualifiers are left with the NCAA Championships on the mind. The first gun sounds on Wednesday, June 10.
Last year, her time of 4:17.09 was only good enough for third place. Her best ever finish was 4:13.58, which she ran a month ago.
The win helped the women's team to a 14th place finish, their best ever. In all, 11 different Highlanders traveled to Eugene, Oregon for the competition.
The men's team also had several competitors led by sophomore Chad Hall. Hall, also running the 1500m, finished sixth with a time of 3:44.12. The men finished the weekend's events in 25th place.
Juniors Lauren Reid and Allison Wilder competed in the triple jump. Reid finished seventh with a distance of 12.73 meters. Wilder finished out of the points, a 13th place finish and a distance of 12.32 meters. The top eight finishers in a given event earn points toward a team score. The two switched places from last year's meet, when Wilder finished eighth and Reid finished 20th.
Senior Ashley Williams finished sixth in the 800 meter race with a time of 2:09.69.
Neither Hall nor Williams still have a shot at joining Martinez in the NCAA Championships to be held in Arkansas on June 10-12.
Originally, they awaited the decisions of athletes with times above them about which events in which to participate.
It is not uncommon for a qualifier in an event to choose to focus to not race that one in a later meet.
On Friday, senior Danielle Evans competed in the 1500 meter preliminaries along with Martinez. Evans failed to reach the finals, recording a time of 4:33.97.
Senior Pedro Ramos also competed in the 1500, but he failed to make the finals finishing in last place in his preliminary.
Other Highlander performances were not as good. Senior Ulices Pina was the last runner to cross the finish line in the 5000 meter race. Senior Uchechi Egeonuigwe failed to advance to the finals of the 400 meter hurdles.
The women's 4x400 meter relay was back to top form with their normal anchor returning. With a substitute at the Big West Championships two weeks ago, they finished second. On Saturday, they lost three seconds on their time and were the last team to cross the finish line.
For now the qualifiers are left with the NCAA Championships on the mind. The first gun sounds on Wednesday, June 10.
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