SAN LUIS OBISPO – Scott Anderson returned to the shot put ring and threw 56-0.75 to qualify for Regionals, highlighting a number of positive performances for UCSB at the Cal Poly Invitational.
Anderson was competing in his first meet in nearly two years, and his mark of 56-0.75 (17.09m) won the meet and earned him a spot in the NCAA West Regionals. He also competed in the discus and threw a Conference-qualifying 160-10 (49.02m).
Julian Samson also performed well in the discus, qualifying for Conference with a best mark of 150-1 (45.75m). Samson finished in third place.
Most of the meet’s sprinting events were wind-aided, with the gusty weather giving the athletes a moderate tailwind. The top wind-aided sprinting times for the Gauchos wereAmanda Lee’s 14.65 in the 100m hurdles, Barbara Nwaba’s 24.96 in the 200m dash, andJason Newland’s 10.70 in the 100m dash.
Complete Results in PDF Format
Newland also set a personal best in the 200m dash, running a wind-legal 21.67 to move up to fifth all-time for the Gauchos. As of Saturday afternoon, Newland’s mark is the fourth-best in the Conference.
Back in the field, Tayler Williams was the winner of the long jump with a wind-aided mark of 19-4.50 (5.91m). Had the wind been legal, Williams would have moved up to second on the UCSB all-time long jump list, just a quarter of an inch shy of the school record.
In the distance races, Ari Selix became the third Gaucho to qualify for Conference in the women’s steeplechase. She ran 11:21.38 to win the race and earn a spot in the field for the Big West Championships.
The hammer throw took place on Friday afternoon, and Irene Kujore improved her hammer mark to 159-1 (48.50m) to place second in the meet. She moves up to fifth all-time for the Gauchos. In the men’s hammer, Alex Umstead was the winner with a mark of 169-9 (51.74m).
Other athletes hitting Conference-qualifying seasonal bests were Missy Burley in the pole vault (11-7.75, 3.55m), Alvin Go in the 400m hurdles (54.50), Mike Larocca in the high jump (6-4.75, 1.95m), and Scott Smith in the 800m (1:53.83).
Stephanie Trafton, the gold medalist in the women’s discus at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, was one of the competitors at the meet. She was the winner of the women’s discus with a throw of 199-5.
Next Friday the Gauchos compete at the Big West Challenge Cup. Our website originally displayed the location as UC Irvine, which is incorrect. The meet’s correct location is Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton at 3:00 p.m.
