Event: Mt. SAC Relays; Bryan Clay Invite
Where: Hilmer Lodge Stadium – Walnut, Calif.; Cougar Athletic Stadium – Asuza, Calif.
When: Friday and Saturday; all day
Who to watch: On Saturday, junior Russ Pfaff stormed to a dominating win in his main event – the 3,000m steeplechase – proving to be a force to be reckoned with in the middle distances.
This weekend, he looks to show that he can do the same in his secondary event, the 1,500m.
“I’m super excited about it,” said Pfaff. “I’d like to get the regional qualifying mark. I’ll be in a fast heat so I should be able to get there if I run well. We’ll see where it goes.“
Did you know? The Aggie pole vaulters also had a solid showing at last weekend’s Woody Wilson Classic, as all four – Ethan Ostrom, Jamie Feaster, Josh Sandler and Daniel Turvey– cleared 4.75m. That was a personal best for all but Ostrom, who cleared 5.05m last month to qualify for regionals.
Preview: The Aggies will split their squad this weekend as they head south to the world-class Mt. SAC relays and the newly coined Bryan Clay Invitational.
A large number of distance runners will be competing at Mt. SAC – known for its competitive distance fields – while many of the sprinters and field eventers will be competing in Asuza.
“People are at the meet they need to be at to get some good things done going into conference and regionals,” said women’s head coach and sprint coach Deanne Vochatzer. “Now we just have to make sure they get it done.“
In addition to Pfaff, the UC Davis 1,500m crew should see some strong marks from sophomore Jonathan Peterson and junior Jonathan Sees.
Peterson was the Aggie leader in the event last year when he clocked 3:50.37 to win the dual meet with Sac State. He also held the second and fourth fastest times of the season for UC Davis, with the third and fifth belonging to Pfaff.
Sees, who redshirted last year, is this season’s leader in the 1,500m with a time of 3:53.78, which he clocked at the Aggie Open – his only 1,500m of the season thus far.
– Alex Wolf-Root
