March 17, 2010

Complete Release in PDF Format

LONG BEACH - The Long Beach State track and field team makes the short trip to USC this weekend for the annual Trojan Invitational, March 19-20.

"We always look forward to this meet because of the facility and competition," said 49er head coach Andy Sythe. "It provides us with a competitive environment to improve ourselves."

A full day of events is slated for Saturday, beginning with the women's javelin at 9 a.m. at USC's Loker Stadium. There are 714 entered athletes and 31 schools competing this weekend. The men's and women's hammer throw is the only event scheduled for Friday and will start at 1 p.m. at Mt. SAC in Walnut, Calif.

LAST WEEK AT THE AZTEC INVITATIONAL
LBSU saw two of its six athletes competing at the Aztec Invitational post first-place finishes on Saturday, March 13. Nimrod Piggee claimed the 110-meter hurdle title, clocking in with a season-best 14.68 seconds in windy conditions. Kevin Jenkins also won the triple jump with a season-long leap of 46-09.50. Jenkins added a runner-up showing in the high jump (6-06.75).

In the pole vault, the 49ers had a pair of solid performances as Brandon Dawes cleared 14-06, while James Bush recorded a height of 14 feet. Nicholas Armstrong took sixth in the long jump (20-07.75) and 110m hurdles (15.74), and also finished 10th in the shot put with a distance of 38-06.25.

HICKS SETS BIG WEST RECORD TO EARN FIRST WEEKLY HONOR
Junior Randi Hicks was named the Big West Women's Field Athlete of the Week following her record-setting performance at the Ben Brown Invitational on March 6. The Oxnard, Calif., native established a conference and school record in the javelin as she won the event with her effort of 170-10. Hicks, who bettered her previous lifetime best by over 18 feet, topped the league record of 169-04, which was held by LBSU alum Kim Heinz. Hicks' mark ranks her No. 1 in the 2010 NCAA Division I national rankings, while 49er teammate Alex Shaw is second with a distance of 164-01.

BLACK HONORED AS SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Senior Alex Black has been named Long Beach State's Big West Male Scholar Athlete of the Year. Black is a two-time NCAA West Regional qualifier and a three-time conference high jump finalist. During the 2010 indoor season, Black established a lifetime-best and NCAA Provisional qualifying mark of 7-00.25. That height also ranks him third in school history.

Black, a mechanical engineering major, has seen much success in the classroom as well. He is a multiple Big West and MPSF All-Academic honoree and was named to CSULB's Dean's List.

UP NEXT
Long Beach State will have a split squad next weekend as it is set to compete in both the Stanford Invitational (March 26-27) and the Cal-Nevada Championships at UCLA, March 27-28.