Two USU Track & Field Men Headed to U.S. Nationals, One to Junior Nationals

Utah State [University] track and field has three men heading back to Eugene, Ore,. for the United States Track & Field Nationals and Junior Nationals. Senior Nick Karren (400m hurdles) and junior Steve Strickland (3,000 steeplechase) will compete in the U.S. Nationals, while freshman Bryce Hall (shot put & discus) will compete in the U.S. Junior Nationals.

"We are happy to be sending these three men," USU veteran head coach Gregg Gensel said. "This is the biggest and best competition and we are proud to have two men going and for Bryce to be at Juniors."

 

Competition for both the Nationals and Junior Nationals will begin Thursday, June 25, and end Sunday, June 28. All events will take place at historic Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. Strickland will be first in action for the Aggies competing in the first round of the 3,000sc at 8:25 p.m. Thursday. Hall will compete in the only round of the Junior Nationals shot put Friday at 3:45 p.m. Karren will follow in the 400h first round at 5:25 p.m. Hall will also compete on Saturday in the discus at 12:45 p.m.

 

"Bryce qualified for a couple events and we are really excited for him,” Gensel said. “This is a great way to finish out his freshman year."

 

Hall qualified in the shot put and the discus. Hall's current PR in the shot put is 57-06.20 (17.54m) which leads the Aggies for this past outdoor season and is also 10th on the USU record list. Hall was also the team leader in the discus (167-07.00/51.08m) and in the hammer throw (183-00.00/55.78m).

 

Karren was the 2009 WAC Outdoor Champion in the 400m hurdles clocking in at 50.87. Karren's PR is 50.72 which he set May 1 at the BYU Tri-meet.

 

Strickland set a new school record in the 3,000sc with a 8:42.71 time, set at the Jessie Owens Ohio State Open, May 1.

 

Karren and Strickland both participated in the NCAA Championships, where, after facing tough competition, neither qualified for the second round of their respective events.

 

"The guys ended their collegiate season at NCAA's are still feeling they both had some unfinished business to take care of,” Gensel said. “What better place for them to do that then on the largest stage there is for track."

 

Hayward Field is the home of the 1972, '76, '80 and the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Utah State also competed at Hayward Field during the NCAA West Regionals May 29-30 and for the Oregon Pepsi Invitational April 3-4.

 

The U.S. Nationals will be aired on national television, on ESPN, on both Friday, June 26, from 6 - 8 p.m. MT and Saturday, June 27, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., and on NBC Sunday, June 28, from 2-4 p.m.