After a strong performance last weekend at the Sun Angel Classic, the ASU track and field team will compete in its final home meet of the year in a tri-team battle against SEC powerhouses LSU and Arkansas.
The Tigers and Razorbacks come into Tempe highly ranked, with the Tigers No. 3 on the men's side and No. 2 on the women's side, while the Razorbacks come with the No. 5 men's team and No. 6 women's team.
ASU coach Greg Kraft knows this will be some of the strongest competition of the year, but stressed the Sun Devils need to stay relaxed and composed.
“It will interesting to step back,” Kraft said. “Now it's the push, though, so we need to stay strong.”
The No. 7 Sun Devils’ men had many strong performances at the Sun Angel Classic, but senior jumper Chris Benard was the most impressive.
Benard earned Pac-12 Athlete of the Week honors after finishing with outdoor career bests in the long jump and triple jump, and Kraft believes the senior is one of three athletes who have helped take over the elite jump team.
“Chris Benard, (sophomore) Bryan McBride and (redshirt sophomore) Derick Hinch have really taken over the jumps on the men's side,” Kraft said.
McBride is coming off a strong performance last week where he set a personal record in the triple jump and went toe-to-toe with former U.S. Olympian Jamie Nieto in the high jump.
Hinch has become a dark horse competitor for the Sun Devils, winning his second straight pole vault competition last weekend.
Kraft also believes there is depth and strength in the men's sprint team.
“We don't even have to worry about Ryan Milus and Daniel Auberry anymore because they are so consistent,” Kraft said. “We kind of take them for granted.”
This depth showed last week as Milus and Auberry teamed up with juniors Rashad Ross and Chris Burrows in the 4x100-meter relay to finish in 39.12 seconds, finishing just outside ASU's top 10 in the event.
The No. 15 Sun Devils’ women hope to continue getting strong performances from freshman Shelby Houlihan.
Houlihan ran a 2:03.85 in the 800-meter dash last weekend and Kraft deemed it the performance of the meet for the Sun Devils.
Junior Christabel Nettey has also impressed for the Sun Devils, winning both the long jump and triple jump competitions at the Sun Angel Classic.
Sophomore thrower Anna Jelmini also poses a big threat, as she won the discus competition last week.
The Sun Devils will compete Saturday at Sun Angel Stadium beginning at 5 p.m.
Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu
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