Big West Conference track and field action takes center stage this week, as eight of the nine conference members will compete, highlighted by the Big West Challenge on Saturday at 9:45 a.m. hosted by Long Beach State. Along with the 49ers, Cal State Fullerton, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Barbara will take part in the annual event at the Jack Rose Track.
Also in action this week, Cal State Northridge hosts Iowa, Northern Arizona, Southern Utah, UC Riverside and USC on Saturday. Utah State travels to BYU for a dual meet on Friday, and Idaho will participate in the Washington State Invitational on Saturday in Pullman, Wash.
Conference eyes might just focus on the Big West Challenge this week, as conference rivals meet with at least six of the Big West's top 10 performers participating in 12 events.
On the men's side, one event that is poised to be explosive is the high jump. The Big West's top eight scorers so far this season will face off, headlined by conference leaders Jonathan Golden and Matt Turner of Cal State Fullerton (6-11.75). Sitting with the third-best mark in the high jump, Haben Hagos and Dan Trautner of Long Beach State, and John Wratten and Julian Eison of UC Irvine (6-10.75) look to jump to the top of the conference marks list.
The Big West's top two performers in the javelin throw will face off with UC Santa Barbara's Gabe Mann (196-09) versus Long Beach State's Tyler McCoy (195-07). In the pole vault, six of the top 10 performers in the Big West square off with leader B.J. Vandrovec of Cal State Fullerton (16-02.75) taking on No. 2 Sean Thomas-Bignami of UC Santa Barbara (16-00.75).
In the men's 800 meters, eight of the top 10 performers in the Big West will meet, led by the UC Santa Barbara duo of Tetlo Emmen (1:49.38) and Ben Armel (1:51.76). The top two relay teams in the Big West will face off in the 4x400m relay with UC Irvine (3:14.72) taking on Long Beach State (3:14.73).
On the women's side, the javelin throw will feature eight of the Big West's top 10 performers, led by Long Beach State's Kim Heinz (157-07). The 4x400m relay might be the Big West Challenge's top event, with the top three teams in the conference (UC Irvine/3:50.63, UC Santa Barbara/3:50.93, Long Beach State/3:52.67) set to race.
In the 1500m race, six of the top 10 performers in the conference will face each other, highlighted by UC Irvine's Kim Ramirez (4:28.70) versus UC Santa Barbara's Lauren Christman (4:29.02). In the 400m race, half of the Big West's top 10 runners will compete, led by the UC Santa Barbara duo of Kylie McCuen (55.23) and Elise Geiger (56.92).
For Idaho, Big West leader in the men's discus throw Russ Winger (169-03.25) and the men's leader in the 200m dash Pat Ray (21.68) will lead the way for the Vandals in Pullman, Wash. On the women's side, the Big West leader in the 800m run, Mary Kamau (2:09.57), will look to stay ahead of the competition for Idaho.
Although not part of the Big West Challenge, Cal State Northridge will host conference rival UC Riverside in what will prove to be an exciting six-team meet. For the Highlanders, Evangela Dixon, the Big West leader in the shot put (51-04.50) and the discus throw (157-09.25) will look to continue her reign at the top of the competition. For Cal State Northridge, a Matador owns the top spot in six of the individual events this week, led by Deanna Goodwin, the Big West's top runner in the 100m dash (11.81) and 200m dash (24.20).
Utah State travels to Brigham Young led by the Big West leader in the 400m hurdles Dustin Vetica (52.47), and the conference shot put leader Zack Lloyd (58-00.50). On the women's side, Katie Thatcher (61.53) and Amber Judd (62.03) are the Big West's top two performers in the 400m hurdles.