Feb. 25, 2008

Complete Weekly Track Notes: Weber State Open

REVIEW
The Bengals competed in their last Open tournament before the Big Sky Conference Saturday. Idaho State achieved multiple top-three finishes at the Best Buy Wildcat Indoor Open. The Bengals finished the tournament with ten first place finishes.

SCHOOL RECORD HOLDER MERKLEY
Junior, Cassie Merkley set the school's 55-meter hurdles record for the second time in her career. Merkley ran a preliminary time of 8.08 and then took first place in the finals when she ran a time of 7.94 in the 55-meter hurdles, 0.05 seconds faster than her previous school record time of 7.99 which she set in 2007. She beat the Big Sky Qualifying Standard of 8.63, but fell short of the NCAA provisional qualifying standard by 0.08 seconds. Merkley also took first place with a time of 25.84 in the 200-meter dash. She also captured third place by reaching a height of 5-05.00 in the high jump.

WOMEN'S RESULTS
Carrie Talbot performed well in the weight throw when she threw a distance of 53-03.50 which enabled her to capture second place and the sixth best All-Time Top Ten Performers record. Talbot improved on her seventh best performers' record of 52-0.50 that she set at the Snake River Open this year. Trinelle McKinley, a junior, took first place with a time of 58.71 in the 400-meter dash. Senior Lois Ricardi took first place with a time of 5:11.73 in the mile run and 2nd place in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:19.62. Sophomore Sydney Wendt took first place in the triple jump with a distance of 37-08.75 and she took second place when she reached a height of 5-05.00 in the high jump. Kasie Scott took first place when she vaulted a height of 12-02.00 at the Open.

MEN'S RESULTS
Freshman Sergio Jones tied for the 10th best All Time Top Ten Performances and Performers record with his second place performance when he ran a time of 6.38 in the 55-meter dash. Jones shares the record with Ed Coleman who set it in 1998. He also took first place with a time of 22.16 in the 200-meter dash. Jones captured second place when he jumped a distance of 22-04.50 in the long jump.

Tysun Rickards, a senior, took first place with a time of 4:24.70 in the mile run and Michael Tucker took third with his time of 4:27.64. Eric Strand ran a time of 1:57.52 in the 800-meter run. Saheed Khan and John Ricardi captured first and second place victories respectively with times of 8:38.87 and 8:43.91 in the 3,000-meter run. Dmitry Beresnev finished in second place with a time of 7.76 in the 55-meter hurdles. Senior Jed Sion took first place when he threw a distance of 53-02.75 in the shot put.