The Beavers Compete In The Willamette Last Chance Meet This Thursday
May 16, 2005
Salem, Ore. -
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Oregon State women's track will be heading to Salem, Oregon this Thursday to compete in the Willamette Last Chance Meet.
"We will be taking a handful of ladies down to the meet who did not get a chance to compete in the Pac-10 Championships last weekend," OSU head coach Kelly Sullivan said.
Sullivan is planning on taking around six ladies to compete. Among the known competitors will be Lauren Denfeld who will compete in the 3,000 meter steeplechase for the Beavers, marking her third time ever to compete in the event and the third time a woman has competed in the event in OSU history.
OREGON STATE'S LATEST MEET: OSU women's track returned for the Pacific-10 Championships late Sunday night, after a long weekend of competition in Los Angeles, California.
OSU head coach Kelly Sullivan brought seven ladies to the meet, competing in the trial heat of the 1,500 meters, the final of the 10,000 meters and the final of the 3,000 meter steeplechase on Saturday. OSU competed in the final of the 1,500 and the final of the 5,000 meters on Sunday.
Kaitlin Poggi, Jean-Marie Peterson, and Taylor Bryant competed in the trial heat of the 1,500 on Saturday. Poggi finished first for OSU and 13th of 17 runners overall with a time of 4:29.85, allowing her to move on and compete in the finals of the event on Sunday.
Ashley Younce and Nicole Crawford competed in the 10,000. Younce posted her fastest time yet in the event thus far this season, finishing 9th of 12 runners with a time of 37:37.21 and barely missing scoring by one spot. Younce's time placed her third on OSU's All-Time Top 10 list in the event, behind Kathly Nolton's 1984 time of 36:21.69.
Lauren Denfeld finished Saturday's meet in the steeplechase, coming in 15th of 18 runners with a time of 11:28.38.
On Sunday Ashley Francis competed in the final of the 1,500 and Kaitlin Poggi competed in the 5,000. Francis finished the event 15th of 16 runners, with a time of 18:27.09. Poggi competed in the event as well, despite the statististics originally showing that she did not start the event.
"There had been a lot of technical problems at the meet regarding finishing times," Sullivan said. "So, Poggi did compete but we are still working on getting her correct time.
"The ladies did very well this weekend and I am very pleased. The ladies are quite pleased as well, and being here has shown them that this level of competition is very attainable for the future."
Ashely Younce: OSU's Ashley Younce's Pac-10 Championship finish in the 10,000 meters solidified a top spot on OSU's Top-10 List for the event. Younce's time of 37:37.21 placed her third on OSU's Top-10 List for the 10,000, putting her behind Kathly Knowlton's 1984 finish in the event with at time of 36:21.69. Younce's time beat out Tina Moran's time of 37:40.49, making up a new all-time top three for the event. The Championships marked the first time this season Younce has competed in the event.
Ashley Younce: OSU's Ashley Younce is currently ranked 12th in the 10,000 meters on the Pac-10 Outdoor Track & Field Performance List. Her time of 37:37.21 places her behind the 11th place time of 37:29.94 of Kelly Ramirez from Washington State.
HEAD COACH KELLY SULLIVAN: Kelly Sullivan came to Oregon State in January, 2004 to re-start OSU's program after being head cross country and track and field coach at nearby Willamette University, a Division III school in Salem, Ore., since 1997. Sullivan was also an assistant coach at Auburn from 1984-96, and head coach at Clackamas Community College (Ore.) from 1980-84.
Sullivan, 47, guided Willamette's teams to three top-10 national finishes in cross country and track and coached 23 All-Americans, including five individuals who won national championships. t Auburn, he coached 36 All-Americans and at Clackamas he coached 24 NCAA All-Americans.
Sullivan was an All-American in the steeplechase and cross country at Willamette before graduating in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in History and Education. A native of Nehalem, Ore., he graduated from Neah-Kah-Nie High.
OREGON STATE TAKES TO THE ROAD: Oregon State will spend at least the first season of its revived cross country and track programs without a home course or track. The Beavers ran in one meet in Corvallis during cross country season at the Oregon State Track Club Invitational, however they will remain on the road for all of their 2005 track season.
