Utah State University Track Team Heads to NCAA West Regional Championships Friday and Saturday

May 24, 2005

LOGAN, Utah - Freshman thrower Zack Lloyd headlines a group of 19 Utah State track and field athletes who will compete at the NCAA West Regional Championships at Eugene, Ore., Friday and Saturday, May 27 and 28.

The meet, which will be hosted by the University of Oregon, is one of four held around the country. The top five finishers from each individual event automatically advance to the NCAA Championships at Sacramento, Calif., June 8-11. In addition, five to eight athletes per event could be selected on an at-large basis on Monday, May 30.

Lloyd, who is from Ely, Nev., has qualified in both the shot put and discus. His 19.05 meter throw in the shot put, ranks fifth in the region, while his discus mark of 53.82 is 16th. The Big West Conference Freshman of the Year was the league runner-up in both the shot put (62-02.25) and discus (176-07).

Three other Aggie men have top 10 West Regional times or distance rankings heading into the meet, including sprinter Rod McNeal, who is listed seventh in the 100 with a time of 10.47. That time is the second fastest in USU history. McNeal could also compete in USU's 4x100 relay, but will sit out the 200, which he qualified for as well.

Justin Wickard owns the region's ninth best time in the 110 hurdles at 14.05, while Mike Nielson's 13:56.76 in the 5,000 meters is the 10th best time. Nielson is the school record holder in both the 5,000 and 10,000.

Dustin Vetica, who had the eighth best 400 hurdles time, and Christian Lee, who owned the 24th best pole vault mark, will not compete due to injuries.

On the women's side Katie Thatcher ranks sixth in the 400 hurdles (60.08) and Tiffany Strickland is listed eighth in the steeplechase (10:29.74). Strickland won the Big West steeplechase title earlier this spring and holds the school record in this event. Last year she placed 29th at the Regional.

USU has two other top 10 West Regional listings, including Lida Ripplinger, 10th in the 5,000 (16:46.76) and Amber Judd, 10th in the 400 hurdles (60.55). Ripplinger holds the school record in both the 5,000 and 10,000, while Judd was 13th in the Regional hurdles last year.

Friday Schedule (USU Entries)

Men

Discus (Trials and Finals) - Zack Lloyd

Shot Put (Trials and Finals) - Zack Lloyd

4x100 Relay (Preliminaries) - Men

110 Hurdles (Preliminaries) - Justin Wickard

100 (Preliminaries) - Rod McNeal

5,000 (Finals) - Trevor Ball, David Danley, Mike Nielson

Women

1,500 (Preliminaries) - Amy Egan

800 (Preliminaries) - Jill Steele

400 Hurdles - (Preliminaries) - Amber Judd, Katie Thatcher