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: Junior Ugo Eke bounced back from a month-long injury this past weekend by clocking a 56.76 in the 400m. Though she took the win, Eke left wanting more.
“As far as getting the time I wanted,” Eke said, “I would have to say ‘no,‘ but I’ll definitely take it. I was really nervous before my race because I had been out so long that I was starting to doubt if I could do it anymore.“
She’ll have her chance to get closer to the school record of 54.73 and regional qualifying mark of 54.61 as she competes at the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays this weekend.
“I just want to keep dropping my times,” said Eke. “I’ve got my eye on that 54. That’s what I’m working toward.“
Did you know? When junior Chid Onyewuenyi set the school record in the shot put on Saturday she became the second Aggie this season to qualify for two events at the regional championships. She also set a school record in qualifying for the hammer throw last month.
Senior Kim Conley has qualified in the 1,500m and the 5,000m – the latter of which is a school record.
Preview: After this weekend, Conley very well may hold the record in the 1,500m as well. She will be in a special Olympic Development section of that event, competing against top collegiate runners as well as at least one international athlete.
Like Conley, senior Lorin Scott and junior Jenna Gailey will be racing the 1,500m, though both are entered in the open section.
“I’m really looking forward to the 1,500m’s,” said coach Deanne Vochatzer. “They will be really challenging and fast races. Kimmy is in striking distance of the school record [4:19.94] held by Suzy Jones, and that record has been around [since 1995].“
Due to the exclusivity of Mt. SAC, some Aggies will be competing at the Bryan Clay Invitational about 20 minutes away.
“It’s probably a blessing in disguise to get split up,” said Vochatzer. “We get more people in more events, so more work gets done. Bryan Clay will be a big meet because Mt. SAC went big time international.“
– Alex Wolf-Root
