Aggie Track and Field Heads to 2009 WAC Indoor Championships this Weekend

Utah State holds seven WAC-leading marks entering into the indoor championships hosted by Boise State

Utah State [University's] men's and women's track and field teams will travel to Boise, Idaho, this week [Feb. 27-28] to compete in the 2009 Western Athletic Conference Indoor Championships at the Jackson Indoor Track Facility in Nampa, Idaho.

 

The meet will begin on Thursday with the heptathlon and pentathlon, while running and field events will start on Friday. The Aggie men are the defending indoor champions, while the women placed fourth last year.

 

"Our athletes are really looking forward to the competition this weekend and it should be close on both the men's and women's side," veteran USU head coach Gregg Gensel said. "We have been working toward this meet since October and for it to actually be here is really exciting. The team is really fired up and wants to do some great things this weekend."

 

Senior Nick Karren was named the 2008 WAC Indoor Male Athlete of the Year after his performance last season placing first in the 60m hurdles and 400m, as well as a member of the first place 4x400 relay team. Gensel was also honored as he was named WAC Men's Coach of the Year. Overall, it was the 21st Coach of the Year honor for Gensel at the time.

 

The Aggies head into the championships holding seven WAC-best marks in seniors Nick Karren (400m), and John Strang (Heptathlon), junior Steve Strickland (3,000m), and sophomore Clint Silcock on the men's side. For the women, juniors Elaine Connolly (800m) and Erin Stratton (mile), and sophomore Sonia Grabowska (pole vault) hold the top marks in WAC.

 

"We are going into the WAC Championships with the mindset that everyone has to do their best," Gensel said. "The strength of both of our teams is our numbers and I think we are a well rounded team. If we are going to have a chance to win a team championship we are going to have to do it by committee with everyone performing at their best. I told the team we just need to do what we do best and that is take care of business, and if we do that we have as good of a shot as anyone."

 

Overall the Aggie women have 24 top 10 WAC-best marks going into the championships, while the men hold 44 top 10 WAC marks.

 

"On the women's side we have a handful of mature veterans like Ashlee Cannon, Sonia Grabowska, Krista Larson and Katie Thatcher that will lead the team. On the men's side, Jason Holt, Nick Karren, Ben Kessen, John Strang and Steve Strickland have all proven in the past that they can lead by example and hopefully they can continue to do that," Gensel stated.

 

Utah State's men return 16 all-WAC performers from last season's indoor championship team that had a total of 26 all-WAC honorees. Of the returnees, the Aggies return defending conference champions in Strang (heptathlon), Strickland (3,000m), Karren (60m hurdles, 4x400 relay and 400m), Holt (distance medley), sophomore Chio Lopez (distance medley), and seniors Brandon Waller (distance medley and 4x400 relay) and Keith Willaims (4x400 relay).

 

USU's women's team returns eight all-WAC honorees from last season's fourth-place finish at the Indoor Championships, including defending WAC champion in Stratton (mile). Other Aggie all-WAC honorees include sophomore Katelyn Jensen (fourth-hammer; fifth-400m), sophomore Sonia Grabowska (third-pole vault), sophomore Maria Halton (sixth-200m), and senior Vanessa Gledhill (sixth-5,000m).

 

Following the WAC Championships, USU's qualified athletes will compete in the 2009 NCAA Indoor Track and field Championships in College Station, Texas, March 12-14, hosted by Texas A&M.