Event: Sacramento State Open; Big West Multi-Meet
Where: Hornet Stadium – Sacramento, Calif.; Matador Track – Northridge, Calif.
When: Saturday all day; Friday, Saturday all-day
Who to watch: Ashley Hearn has kicked it up a notch.
Two weeks ago in the Brutus Hamilton Invitational, the junior from Rocklin, Calif. shattered her personal best in discus with a distance of 163-3. That record didn’t last long, as Saturday she launched the discus 166-8.
Did you know? While the Aggies are still striving for great individual marks, some athletes are already ranked within the top eight performers of all teams in the western region of Division 1. Hearn, Polly Gnepa, Alex Wilright, Ray Green, Kaitlin Gregg, Anikia Jackson, Igor Seriba, and Sarah Sumpter all have spots on that list.
Preview: Despite the fact that the Big West Conference and NCAA Championships are looming, the Aggies remain unfazed because there is still work to be done.
“Right now we are training hard and moving towards our peak,” said men’s coach Jon Vochatzer. “We are still focused on getting good marks to qualify for nationals.”
Women’s coach Deanne Vochatzer added that good marks are even more important because the Big West is a very talented conference.
“Every time we do something well, we see [other Big West teams] doing well too,” Deanne said. “We know that we have to keep pushing and challenging ourselves to keep up.”
The track and field squads will have opportunities to put pressure on their competition as they head across the Causeway to compete at the Sacramento State Open. UC Davis will send its best throwers and jumpers to the event for added work before the Big West championships begin.
“We will bring our [technique] athletes,” Vochatzer said. “We will also bring our relay teams because last week they didn’t have a chance at the Payton Jordan Invitational.”
Also, coach Jon Vochatzer will be taking Jackson and Will Guthrie to the Big West Multi Meet held at Northridge, Calif.
– Matt Wang
