FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton track and field will compete against UC Santa Barbara, Long Beach State and the host, UC Irvine, in the 26th annual Big West Challenge on Friday at Anteater Stadium. Field events begin at 2 p.m. PT and track events are set to start at 6 p.m. PT.
The Titans have already set four school records this outdoor season, with Nicole Clark throwing 144-11 (44.17m) in the women's javelin and Corey Gilbert throwing the discus 178-7 (54.45m). , Samantha Huerta now owns two school records as she ran a mile-converted 4:26.68 1,500-meter time and last weekend at the Titan Team Challenge (March 31) she ran the 800-meter race in 2:07.36.
Naiah Boardingham is the reigning Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week after her impressive day at the Titan Team Challenge (March 31). Boardingham, who jumped 19-08.75 to win the UCR Spring Break Classic a week ago, cleared 19 feet, 7 inches on her home turf at the Titan Team Challenge. Boardingham ranks No. 2 in the Big West in the long jump. She also competed in three track events, coming in fifth in the 100-meters (11.99), third in the 200-meters (24.37) and third in the 4x100 meter relay (46.76). She is CSF's leader in the 100m, 200m and long jump this season.
Congratulations to Naiah Boardingham on being named @BigWestXCTF Women's Field Athlete of the Week! #TusksUp https://t.co/sszaT4i17z pic.twitter.com/m9ToSoxlcJ
— Titan Track & Field (@FullertonTFXC) April 3, 2018
At this point in the outdoor season, the Titans have eight individual marks that rank in the top-48 in the NCAA West Region on the women's side. In order to qualify for the NCAA West Preliminary Round at the end of the season, you must have a top-48 mark in the region. Huerta has the No. 4 ranked time in the 800-meter race at 2:07.36 and her 1,500m time is ranked 33rd. Wendi Leos holds the 48th time in the region in the 10K at 37:27.40. Gabrielle De La Rosa's steeplechase time of 10:56.95 is currently ranked 48th in the region.
Pole vaulters Bryn Williamson and Alysse McMillen are tied for the 37th-best mark in the west at 12-7.5 (3.85m). Boardingham's long jump mark of 19-8.75 (6.01m) is ranked 31st in the region and Clark's school-record toss of 144-11 is ranked 48th in the javelin.
For the men's side, 11 individual marks rank in the top-48 of the West region. Rasaun House's wind-aided time of 10.44 in the 100 meters is tied for 15th along with Thaddeus Smith's time of 10.44 (+1.8 wind). Smith also has the No. 28 time in the 200 meters at 21.20. Marcel Espinoza's time of 47.37 in the 400 meters is good for 23rd in the region. Mason Guzman-Sanchez is ranked 41st in 110-meter hurdles at 14:52. Jorge Sanchez (9:06.16) is 40th and Danny Ramirez (9:12.73) is 47th in the region in the steeplechase.
Edwin Matthews' high jump clearance of 6-8.75 (2.05m) is 31st in the region and Anthony Applequist triple jumped 50-5.5 (15.38m) to be ranked 16th. Gilbert's discus toss of 178-8 (54.45m) is good for 18th in the region and Alvin Sung threw the javelin 203-0 (61.88m) which is 31st.
As we are in the 2018 season, cross country and track and field head coach John Elders is in his 30th season at the helm of each program making him the longest tenured head coach in the history of Cal State Fullerton. Cal State Fullerton won the 2017 Big West Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the first conference title in program history.
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