March 19, 2011
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Amid a dozen victories for the Aggie track and field program during the Aztec Invitational hosted by San Diego State, one school record fell when Laura Asimakis cleared 13-4.25 (4.07) in the pole vault.
In making her first appearance for Texas A&M since an injury at the Texas Relays last season, Asimakis bettered the previous school mark of 13-3.5 (4.05) set in 2002 by Erica Boren.
Asimakis, who had a career best of 12-11.75 (3.96) coming into the meet, broke the nine-year-old Aggie record and tied for first place with UCLA's Allison Koressel in the pole vault competition. Teammate Aly Daily placed fifth with a clearance of 12-8.25 (3.87), which is No. 3 on the A&M all-time list and the ninth-best performance.
"I'm definitely excited to be back," Asimakis said. "The long break made me more anxious to get back into action and go crazy. I got stronger and worked hard by lifting more weights. Now I'm aiming towards 14 feet and making nationals. That's my goal.
"I know our school record has been held for a long time by Erica. I've been working towards this height since my freshman year. I've thought about the school record every single day. From the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep, the school record is on my mind."
Season debuts in the javelin resulted in victories for the A&M brother and sister combination of Emalie and Sam Humphreys. Emalie won the women's title with a toss of 160-4 (48.87), hitting her mark in the final round of the competition to slip past the 160-0 (48.78) produced by Tara Ross of Long Beach State.
"Reaching 160 is a mark I always aim for in a competition," Emalie Humphreys stated. "Starting my senior season off with a win is sweet, especially when you are suppose to win based on the seed marks for this meet. I was glad I was able to keep things together and get the win on my last throw."
Sam nailed a distance of 245-2 (74.73) in the second round and sealed his win in the men's javelin. The mark for Humphreys ranks as the sixth-best performance on the Aggie all-time list and it is the current U.S. and collegiate leader in 2011.
"Coming back from our off-season you're just anxious to get back to throwing in meets," Sam Humphreys noted. "Even using a short approach to start the outdoor season, I was pleased with the distance I threw today. I can only look forward to what I'll be able to do with a full run on my approach."
The women's javelin also had three more Aggies producing marks above 135 feet. Daily finished fifth with a mark of 142-7 (43.46), Bonnie Richardson placed ninth 136-8 (41.66) and Lauren Berg was 11th at 135-0 (41.14).
Another field event victory was claimed by A&M with Sasha-Kay Matthias in the women's triple jump where her windy effort of 41-6.5 (12.66w) bettered the field by nearly two feet. Tiffany Peters placed fifth with a windy 38-4.25 (11.69w).
On the track the Aggies posted six individual victories and a pair of relay wins.
Demetrius Pinder claimed the 200 in 20.54 seconds, the second fastest time posted in the world so far during the 2011 outdoor season. Tran Howell finished second in the 100 with a 10.56 effort.
"I ran the race comfortably, just trying to better my personal best," said Pinder, who set an outdoor best of 21.18 this same weekend last year in Puerto Rico. "It was just a technical race for me. I pushed out of the blocks well and lifted my knees as the coaches tell me to do."
Pinder recently set the Bahamian national indoor record for 400 meters when he won the NCAA Indoor title in 45.33 seconds. The outdoor 200m record for the Bahamas is 20.21 set in 2002 by Dominic Demeritte.
"I was very surprised to see 20.54 since I was focusing on different technical things within my race. My main goal is always to stay humble and continue to work hard in practice."
Aggies claimed five of the top six places in the 200, finishing 1-2-3-4-6. Following Pinder were Prezel Hardy, Jr. (21.20) and Carlyle Roudette (21.31).
In relay action the A&M women churned out a collegiate-leading 43.90 victory with the foursome of Collier, Jeneba Tarmoh, Duncan and Jessica Beard. A second group of Aggies placed third with a 45.89 performance.
The men's sprint relay team crossed the line first with a 39.95, but was disqualified for an exchange out of the zone on the last baton pass. The Aggies ran with a crew of Prezel Hardy, Jr.
In the men's 4 x 400 the A&M men rolled to a comfortable eight-second victory. The foursome of Joey Roberts, Carlyle Roudette, Bryan Miller and Oscar Ramirez ran 3:06.11 with BYU second in 3:14.32.
Earlier in the meet Roberts won the 400 in 46.96 with Wayne Davis II posted a 14.09 to win the 110 hurdles.
MacLean O'Donnell clocked 8:19.27 for victory in the 3,000 meters as A&M runners also finished 3-5-7-9-11. Kevin Burnett ran 8:25.07 for third place while Will Barry posted an 8:32.21 for fifth place.
Dominique Duncan claimed the 100-meter title in 11.69 ahead of Ashley Collier's 11.75.
Meanwhile, Natosha Rogers led an Aggie 1-2-3 finish in the 3,000 with a 9:42.12. Katherine Devlin finished second in 9:47.18 while Haley Parsons placed third in 9:50.11.
Before sprint events were turned to allow athletes to run with the wind at their backs, Natasha Ruddock placed second in the 100 hurdles with a 13.61 effort into a 3.3 headwind. Pro athlete Lashinda Demus won the race in 13.17 seconds.
In Friday's hammer action at Mesa College, Casey Strong threatened the Aggie school record of 189-4 (57.70) with his career best toss of 188-6 (57.47) that placed third. Landon Hartwick finished fifth with a personal best of 177-4 (54.06).
Personal best marks were generated by the A&M in each of the 800-meter races. Erica Parker clocked 2:09.19 for fourth place while Aliese Hyde ran 2:10.52 for sixth, just ahead of a 2:10.85 for Demus. In the men's 800 Sam Mutschler posted a 1:51.17 for third as James Bonn turned in a 1:52.09 to place fourth.
The women's 200 saw Ibukun Mayungbe finish fourth with a 24.14 while Chandrell Stephens ran 24.34 for sixth place.
In the 4 x 400 relay the A&M women had a pair of teams post 3:45.20 and 3:45.88 as the Aggies finished second and third.
A&M Victories - Aztec Invitational
Men (6)
200 - 20.54 (1.8), Demetrius Pinder
400 - 46.96, Joey Roberts
3,000 - 8:19.27, MacLean O'Donnell
110H - 14.09 (0.9), Wayne Davis II
4 x 400 - 3:06.11 (Joey Roberts, Carlyle Roudette, Bryan Miller, Oscar Ramirez)
JT - 245-2 (74.73), Sam Humphreys
Women (6)
100 - 11.69 (1.8), Dominique Duncan
3,000 - 9:42.12, Natosha Rogers
4 x 100 - 43.90 (Ashley Collier, Jeneba Tarmoh, Dominique Duncan, Jessica Beard)
PV - 13-4.25 (4.07), Laura Asimakis (SCHOOL RECORD)
TJ - 41-6.5w (12.66), Sasha-Kay Matthias
JT - 160-4 (48.87), Emalie Humphreys