Beavers off to Seattle for MPSF Championships

Friday, February 24

Seattle, Wash.

All Day

Oregon State

MPSF Championships

Jasmin McKenzie set the OSU long jump record at last year's MPSF meet.

Photo by: Oregon State Athletics

February 22, 2017 | Women's Track & Field

MPSF information 2017 performance list All-time list

By: Athletic Communications

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State track & field team concludes its winter season this weekend at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation indoor championships at the Dempsey Indoor Center in Seattle.

Competition begins at noon on Friday with the weight throw. Saturday's action begins at 10:30 a.m. with the shot put and high jump.

"We've been using indoor to give people an opportunity to compete, and more experience, and to see their progress," OSU coach Kelly Sullivan said. "Our emphasis is being an outdoor team.

"But, we will go to this meet with really high expectations. We want the kids to see this as preparation for the most important time of our year. Then, line up and compete hard."

The Beavers scored 14 points and took 12^th place in the 19-team field at the 2016 MPSF championships. They set school indoor records in the 200 meters, the long jump and the triple jump while posting 13 all-time top-10 times or marks.

Top-10 placers from 2016 competing this weekend are Kara Hallock, who took fifth in the pentathlon (3,796); Jasmin McKenzie, sixth in the long jump (19-3.25), and Devin Collins, ninth in the 60 hurdles (8.60).

The distance medley relay placed seventh (11:36.94); returning from that foursome are Juliana Mount (1200); Collins (400) and Morgan Anderson (1600). The graduated Kelsi Schaer ran the 800 leg.

Several of the team's top distance runners have not competed this winter, preparing for the outdoor campaign. OSU's javelin, hammer and discus competitors have also been idle in those events, which aren't offered indoors.

Sprinters Kerissa and Venessa D'Arpino have re-written the record book in the 60 and 200 meters this winter. Kerissa (7.58) and Venessa (7.62) now rank 1-2 in the 60; Venessa (24.67) and Kerissa (24.77) are 1-2 in the 200.

"The twins have really taken a big step," Sullivan said. "And our freshmen throwers (Lindsay McShane, Sydney Guthrie-Baker) are getting a ton of experience," and have posted top-10 marks in the shot put and weight throw.

This weekend's meet is also another chance for the jumpers and pole vaulters, hamstrung this winter by the extremely inclement weather, to practice and compete. OSU does not have indoor pole vault or jumping pits.

"We haven't been able to get outside and that's been hard on our pole vaulters and jumpers," Sullivan said. "We're fortunate to have the Truax Center, but that has FieldTurf," not the customary surface they compete on during the outdoor season.

The Beavers set three school records and posted 20 all-time top-10 times or marks in their previous two meets this winter. They set one school record and had nine top-10 times or marks at the Husky Classic on Feb. 10-11, and set two school records and 11 all-time top 10 performances at the Washington Invitational on Jan. 27-28.

"We're building, not just for this weekend but for the rest of the year and thereafter," Sullivan said. "I am excited. We've made a lot of staff changes within the past year, and we have a lot of good things going on."

For more information on the Oregon State track and field program, follow the Beavers on Facebook at Facebook.com/OSUTrackCrossCountry, or on Twitter at twitter.com/@BeaverTFXC

Following is a list of OSU's projected entrants, with season PRs in parenthesis:

Friday

60 METERS (prelims): Kerissa D'Arpino (7.58); Venessa D'Arpino (7.62).
200 METERS: Venessa D'Arpino (24.67); Kerissa D'Arpino (24.76).
60 HURDLES (prelims): Devin Collins (8.93); Alba Villaronga (9.86).
DISTANCE MEDLEY (including alternates): Oregon State (Juliana Mount, Kerissa D'Arpino, Gwyneth McMorris, Morgan Anderson, Venessa D'Arpino, Lexi Reed); no time this winter.
LONG JUMP: Jasmin McKenzie (17-10.25); Madelayne Varela ((16-10.75).
PENTATHLON: Kara Hallock (3,652 points).
POLE VAULT: Helen Ann Haun (11-10.75); Gillette Field (11-10.75).
WEIGHT THROW: Lindsay McShane (48-2); Rachel Picknell (48-1.25); Sydney Guthrie-Baker (42-8.25).

Saturday

60 METERS (finals): TBA.
400 METERS: Venessa D'Arpino (NT); Devin Collins (NT).
800 METERS: Gwyneth McMorris (2:15.54).
MILE: Lexi Reed (5:00.06).
3,000 METERS: Juliana Mount (9:33.62); Morgan Anderson (9:43.76); Lexi Reed (10:03.07).
60 HURDLES (finals): TBA.
1,600 RELAY: Oregon State (Kerissa D'Arpino, Venessa D'Arpino, Kara Hallock, Gwyneth McMorris, Devin Collins); no time this winter.
TRIPLE JUMP: Madelayne Varela (38-6).
HIGH JUMP: Rachel Proteau (5-3.75); Ally Jackson (5-3).
SHOT PUT: McKenzie Byrd (NM); Sydney Guthrie-Baker (41-7.25); Lindsay McShane (36-5).

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