After hosting their own prestigious tournament, the Sun Angel Classic on April 10, the ASU track and field team traveled to Walnut, Calif., to run in the Mt. SAC Relays, one of the country's biggest track events.
While the number of athletes traveling west was limited, success was not, as the team recorded four top five finishes and one win.
The victory came at the hands of Julia Pedersen, whose toss of 51.31m was good enough to win her the discus competition. Pedersen's throw was the only one in her division over the 50m mark. The win made up for a third-place finish at the Relays last year.
For the men, Travis Jones took part in two throwing events, finished third in the hammer (57.7m) and ninth in the discus (49.64m).
In the high jump, Trevell Quinley tied three others, clearing 2.08m, good enough for second in the event and just .05m behind Long Beach State junior Haben Hagos, who won the event.
On the women's side, Jennifer Kowacz placed fifth in the women's hammer throw (56.61m) and Sandra Orsund placed 11th in the discus (41.7m).
The Sun Devils face a busy week ahead, as the team will split up and travel to three different events -- the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, the Oregon Invitational in Eugene, Ore., and the UC-San Diego Open.
Hastings name in record books
Despite finishing seventh overall in the 5,000m run, Amy Hastings' 16:02.53 was the fourth-fastest time in ASU history.
In 2000, Kelly MacDonald ran a 15:52.28 to establish the school's record. She is now an assistant coach with Washington, specializing with distance runners and recruiting.
Jones stumbles
In her first outdoor race of the year, five-time Olympian Marion Jones finished a disappointing fourth in the 200m dash Sunday.
Jones finished with a time of 23.02, trailing race winner, Penn State senior Connie Moore (22.71), USA Track and Field sprinter Crystal Cox (22.91) and San Diego State senior Tonette Dyer (22.99).
Reach the reporter at jeffrey.hoodzow@asu.edu.
