Just a week after closing the door on the indoor track and field season, Weber State opened the door on the 2010 outdoor track and field season at the UNLV Open on Saturday, March 6. It was a meet for the sprinters, hurdlers and field event athletes and produced some tremendous early season times and marks. The best mark came in the men’s Shot Put where sophomore RYAN SHELTON (Soldotna, Alaska) broke the oldest standing men’s track and field record on the WSU all-time top ten list. He won the event with a toss of 55-09.00 breaking the old record of 55-05.50 set back in 1969 by Frank Reilly. “That was tremendous effort by Ryan,” said WSU men’s coach Dan Walker. “Ryan came to us this past Fall from Chadron State after they dropped his major, so I told him he could walk onto the team. His career best was 50-10, but he made a two-foot improvement during the indoor season and has now made nearly a five-foot improvement.” The WSU men took first place in the Pole Vault, Hammer Throw, Shot Put, 110 meter hurdles and the 400 meter hurdles. Coach Walker’s men had 13 Big Sky Conference qualifying times and marks.
Coach Jim Blaisdell’s women produced 10 Big Sky Conference qualifying marks and times. They had first place finishes in the 400 meters, 800 meters, Javelin and Long Jump. “This was the first time we’ve ever had an outdoor meet this early in the season, so we didn’t know what to expect from our team,” said Blaisdell. “Turns out it was a good decision. Our athletes were excited to get out and participate in some warm weather and against some good competition.” ALLY DEAN (Sr.-South Ogden, Utah) picked up right where she left off from the indoor season. She won the 400 meters in a career best 54.77 which is the fifth best outdoor time in WSU school history. She also placed second in the 200 in 24.78. It was the much anticipated debut of freshman javelin star TIFFANY HELLSTROM (South Ogden, Utah) and she didn’t disappoint winning the Javelin with a lifetime best throw of 151-05. That is the sixth best toss in WSU women’s outdoor history. ALEX FILIAGA (Sr.-Ogden, Utah) also had a good day winning the Shot Put and finishing third in the Hammer Throw. Despite the third place finish, she threw a career best 171-04.00 which is the second best throw in Weber State school history
Courtesy: Weber State