The Arizona track and field teams kept busy over spring break, venturing to Arkansas for the NCAA Indoor Championships and hosting their second home meet of the season, the Willie Williams Classic and Dave Murray Distance Carnival.
Friday and Saturday, Arizona welcomed over 1,100 athletes from 27 high schools, 14 colleges and several track clubs. The collegiate squads included Pacific 10 Conference rival Washington, in addition to teams from British Columbia, BYU, Central Arizona, Glendale Community College, Idaho, Mesa Community College, Minnesota, New Mexico State, Pima Community College, Wayne State and Western State.
Arizona was successful throughout the weekend, boasting five Pac-10 and NCAA regional qualifying performances.
On Saturday, the Wildcat women claimed the second through sixth positions in the 100-meter hurdles. Freshman Tiffany McDonald led the way with a Pac-10 qualifying time of 14.05 seconds, earning her a second-place finish.
On the field, the Arizona women had a similar performance with a sweep in the top four places in the pole vault. Senior Connie Jerz won the event with a height of 13 feet, 9 inches, a Pac-10 and NCAA regional qualifying mark.
Jessica Corkill and Nikki Martin battled for second place in the long jump after they both finished with a distance of 18 feet, 9 inches. Corkill won the event based on her second-best jump.
On the men's side, senior Adrain Thomas finished second in the 400 meters, clocking a time of 48.50 seconds. In his first collegiate competition, Daniel Cook was second in the 110-meter high hurdles with a time of 14.79 seconds.
Senior Mark Ramos claimed the long jump competition with a leap of 23 feet, 3 inches. In discus, freshman Adam Kuehl won the event with a throw of 180 feet, 3 inches (a Pac-10 and NCAA regional qualifying mark). Senior Ryan Moore earned second in the men's hammer, with a throw of 185 feet, 6 inches.
Friday, the Wildcats focused their attention on the distance events in the Dave Murray Distance Carnival, named after longtime UA track and field coach. In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, senior Nicole Gurnicz came in second and was trailed by freshman Jenn Ford, who finished third.
Sophomore Amber Steen was the first Wildcat to cross the line in the 1,500 meters, earning her a fourth-place finish.
"I think we did really well," Steen said. "Our team can only improve from where we're at. There are a lot of people close to making Pac-10 and regionals, and everyone will keep improving to accomplish that (goal)."
In the shot put, senior Amber Varner finished second with a season's-best toss of 48 feet. Fellow senior Jackilyn Drake also came in second in the hammer throw with a distance of 170 feet, 6 inches; Varner followed with a distance of 168 feet, 2 inches, earning her third place.
Freshman Kenny Frank led the UA men in the 800 meters, finishing second with a time of 1:53.19. Senior Matt McInvale was victorious in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, clocking a time of 9:30.00.
In the men's pole vault, senior Kevin Opalka had a big win with a season's best height of 17 feet, 0 inches. Chris Chappell finished second at 16 feet, 8 inches.
The Wildcat men grabbed the top three spots in the triple jump. Senior J.R. Harrison claimed the crown at 52 feet, 1 inch, ranking fourth in Arizona history and giving him a Pac-10 and NCAA regional qualifying distance. Senior Mike Mensah and freshman Daniel Marshall followed in second and third, respectively.
On March 12 and 13, eight UA athletes traveled to Arkansas for the NCAA Indoor Championships. The women finished in 15th place with 5.5 points, while the men received five points and a 34th place finish. The men and women combined to take home five All-America honors.
Junior Sharifa Jones received All-America honors in both of her events ÷ the long jump and the 60-meter hurdles. With a distance of 19 feet, 8 inches, Jones ranked 11th in the long jump. She set yet another school record in the hurdles with a time of 8.18 seconds.
In the women's pole vault, senior Connie Jerz tied for third with a personal best vault of 13 feet, 7 inches.
On the men's side, senior Kyle Goklish received All-America honors and a 12th place finish in the 5,000-meter finals with a time of 14:14.74. The men's distance medley relay (made up of Jin Daikoku, Jevon Mason, Tim Ramirez and Robert Cheseret) finished ninth with a time of 9:41.61.
In the 3,000 meters, Cheseret won a four-man race for fourth place, in which all four athletes finished within 0.6 seconds of each other. With a time of 8:04.28, he received All-America honors.
The Wildcats continue the outdoor season as they host two events this week at Drachman Stadium. Tomorrow and Wednesday, the Mike Maynard Wildcat Combined Events will take place, featuring several decathletes and heptathletes. Saturday, the Wildcats look forward to the Jim Click Shootout.