The Long Beach State track and field team will attempt to run, throw and jump its way to the top at the Big West Conference Championships this weekend in Northridge.
The two-day meet will be held at Cal State Northridge’s Matador Track Complex on Friday and Saturday. The Beach will show its presence in the meet as the team boasts 49 Big West-qualifying marks in 21 events on the men’s side and 29 qualifying-marks in 21 events for the women.
The 49ers are led by the likes of women’s javelin throwers Randi Hicks and Alex Shaw, who hold the top two Big West marks in the event. Hicks, a junior, holds a school and Big West record with her toss of 170 feet, 11 inches, which also places her eighth in the nation. Shaw, a senior, is currently ranked No. 12 nationally at 164-11.
The friendly competition is part of what pushes the two throwers toward attaining their national rankings.
“We work together to help each other out,” Hicks said. “It’s good competition because there’s not that much competition in the Big West besides me and her. It helps both of us out.”
Senior Kenneth Medwood’s time of 50.37 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles at the Beach Invitational in April catapulted him to first in the conference and 10th in the nation. His time was also a school record-breaking mark. Medwood is also third in the Big West in the long jump and fourth in the 200-meter dash.
“I hope to get first place [in the 400-meter hurdles],” Medwood said. “If not, at least finish with a top time bettering the school record. I’d like to really go out there to support my team and get as many points as I can.”
The Beach has literally jumped its way to the top of the men’s high jump standings.
Junior Nicholas Armstrong and senior Alex Black are tied for first place in the conference as both hold the same season-best mark of 6-10 3/4.
“We have been competing against each other for a while now, since high school,” Armstrong said about his history of facing off against Black. “And now that we go to the same school, we still do that same thing. It seems that every time either one of us is jumping good, the others followed suit.”
Armstrong and Black are two of four qualifiers for the 49ers in the high jump. Armstrong also represented LBSU in the decathlon in the Big West Multi-Events Championship over the weekend, placing second with 7,224 points.
The 49er men have several qualifiers in the mid and long distance running events.
Senior Alex Freitas leads five LBSU qualifiers in the 800 meters and sophomore Matt Maldonado heads five 49er qualifiers in the 1,500 and 5,000-meter events.
Another highlight for the team is the throwing unit, led by junior Cesar Puga, who headlines four qualifiers in the shot put and discus. Puga is ranked No. 36 nationally in the discus.
The javelin might be the strongest event for the 49er women, but another notable Big West-qualifier this weekend is senior Tayler O’Connor, who will lead three LBSU women in the high jump at the championships. Freshman Kayla Kamaka paces three women’s qualifiers in the pole vault. The 49er women also have three qualifiers each in the 800 meters, 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters and 400-meter hurdles.
Head coach Andy Sythe said he has high hopes for the conference meet, as well as the NCAA Regionals from May 27-29 for those fortunate enough to make the trip to Austin, Texas. Only athletes holding a top-48 mark regionally in each individual event qualify for the NCAA West Regional Championships, according to Sythe.
“I’m proud of what these guys and gals have done,” Sythe said. “I really look forward to them showing what they can do.”
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