Wildcats dominate meet after ASU, New Mexico State pull out

Ryan Mihalyi Arizona Daily Wildcat UA freshman Erin Aldrich jumped for 18-feet-2 inches, winning her first collegiate meet. The UA track and field opened their season on Saturday at the Roy P. Drachman stadium.

Arizona State and New Mexico State, both expected to participate, declined to attend at the last minute. ASU reportedly committed to another meet, while the Aggies were unable to secure hotel accommodations and decided to skip the meet altogether, rather than wind up having to stay in Wilcox, Ariz., as they did last year.

Most of Arizona's competition either came from non-college athletes competing unattached or from the Central Arizona College team.

All the track events were run at indoor distances during the event.

Leading the way for the Wildcats on the men's side were Dameon Ortiz in the 300-meter dash (34.00 seconds) and Micheil Jones in the 3,000m (8:27.46).

"It was a low-key event," UA head coach Dave Murray said. "I saw some very good performances out there today, particularly Dameon and Micheil."

"It felt pretty good (to compete)," Ortiz said. "You have to take it serious. We know that this meet is just to get ready for the real competition later on."

Also winning on the men's side was Bob Keino in the mile run (4:20.47), though according to Murray, Keino had just recovered from a long bout with the flu that had cost him 15 pounds.

On the women's side, Amy Skieresz, the 1996 NCAA Cross Country champion, won the mile run with a new stadium record time of 4:56.34.

Arizona's Jamie Taylor won the 150m dash with a time of 18.21, finishing just ahead of teammate Colleen Rhemm (18.57). Rhemm had slipped past Taylor in the 55m dash earlier in the day (7.21-7.26).

Freshman Erin Aldrich topped the long jump with a mark of 18-feet-2 inches, winning in her first collegiate meet.

"We'll be ready for next week," Murray said. "This meet was just to iron out all of our performances and get everyone ready."

Next up for Arizona is an indoor meet against ASU and Northern Arizona in Flagstaff on Feb. 8.