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ASU track and field looks to represent at home vs. top competition

(04/04/13 10:23pm)

Earlier this season, ASU track and field coach Greg Kraft said true competitors perform their best when they’re competing against the best. That sense of rising to the occasion describes the upcoming meet for the Sun Devils. The 34th Annual Sun Angel Classic is set to take place from April 5 to April 6 and will host some of the top schools in the country. “Sun Angel is typically known for bringing out talent from all over, so anytime we can go head to head with our biggest competition and dominate. That’s always a plus,” senior sprinter and long jumper Christabel Nettey said. “We are definitely ready.” The 20 colleges and universities attending accounts for over 1,000 entries, creating one of the biggest turnouts for the meet in its long history. The Sun Devil athletes will be up against some of the top talent in the country, with women competitors from No. 1 Kansas, No. 16 Illinois, No. 17 Iowa State and No. 23 Oklahoma participating in the meet. ASU women’s team currently ranks No. 8 in the country. Nettey is going to embrace the competition, as she will square off against a familiar foe. “For me personally, the long jump will probably be the closest simulation to nationals that I will get,” Nettey said. “The girl that I tied with in indoors will be competing, and for me, there is no losing at home. So not only do I hope to have a great series of jumps, I’m trying to win.” Nettey currently holds the No. 4 spot in the long jump nationally and will be facing off against No. 8 senior Andrea Geubelle from Kansas as her biggest competition. But Nettey really wants to prove herself in her other event the 100-meter hurdles. “For me coming back, hurdling this year is all about establishing myself, because I did fall off for a while,” Nettey said. “So a win is only a great confidence booster, which I will need throughout the championship season.” Men need new leader The men’s track and field team still sits in the top 25 but fell three spots from No. 15 to No. 18 after a lack-luster performance two weekends ago in the ASU Invitational. While several men had a successful meet, redshirt senior thrower Jordan Clarke still headlines the men’s team. Clarke’s all-star performance this season is substantial to the Sun Devil men’s overall results, but someone needs to help him carry the load if ASU wants to make a championship run as a team. The men’s 4x100 and 4x400 relay team recorded great times at the ASU Invitational that put them at No. 7 and No. 11 in the country, respectively. On the field side of things, redshirt junior Derick Hinch is climbing the rankings, sitting at No. 13 currently. Hinch is one of the athletes on the men’s side that is stepping up in a big way and says he embraces the challenge Kraft is asking of his men. “I will step up,” Hinch said. “But we really need to have someone from the sprint team to stand out and make himself a leader. We need to get more sprinters to NCAAs.” That answer may come in the form of redshirt freshman Devan Spann, who ran away with two big victories in the 100-meter dash and men’s 4x400 at the ASU Invitational. Kraft points to his success as a stepping stone as the team moves closer to championship season. Reach the reporter at msterrel@asu.edu

https://www.statepress.com/article/2013/04/asu-track-and-field-looks-to-represent-at-home-vs-top-competition

ASU throwers' bond bears another level of success

(04/02/13 10:23pm)

On every team, teammates form bonds that are hard to describe to the outside world. “As a thrower, I feel a strong bond from other throwers, and this helps us all become the best we can be,” redshirt junior thrower Chelsea Cassulo said. “The love and support we show each other makes us like one big family.” The throwers at ASU, as Cassulo said, are not typical teammates that spend a few years together and part ways. The group is on a whole other level, and that special bond is recognizable when watching them together at practice and at meets. If one is not competing at a meet, it's certain she will be there cheering on her comrades. “I do feel like my teammates are motivators,” redshirt junior thrower Anna Jelmini said. “We all want to be individually successful, as well as seeing our teammates be successful too.” Both Jelmini and Cassulo have had successful careers for the Sun Devils. Whenever there are multiple athletes with top-tier talent on the same team, it ultimately can pay dividends for the whole program and the individual competitors. “We are a very tightly knit group on the team,” Jelmini said. “Everyone does a great job supporting each other and creating a positive and motivating environment. And when this environment is on, it creates a wave of success.” Her teammate states they all have their gaze set on more than just individual glory. “The biggest thing that I love about our group is how we love to see each other accomplish our goals and succeed,” Cassulo said. Considered as one of the best Sun Devil transfers in recent history, Cassulo is making a push for more than that. The former UNLV Rebel wants to become the best. “This record was just a stepping stone on my way to better things,” Cassulo said in regards to breaking the ASU hammer throw record. “It won’t be the last time I break it, and I have so many more records to go after — Pac-12 and NCAA.” Her fellow teammate is right there with her at the top. Jelmini is a returning first-team All-American in the outdoor season and a back-to-back outdoor NCAA championship runner-up. But that’s not how she wants to be remembered. “What I need to do this year is be successful, especially in the discus,” Jelmini said. “Having upsets in your career — like me getting back-to-back at NCAAs — has really helped to make me stronger and more driven than ever before. “I feel as though I will have a great year, and I am excited to see what I can do.” The two women’s experience with their unit can’t be described with records and championships. Instead, Cassulo sums it up in one word. “Badass,” she said. “We know we are the best and our success proves it. Now we just have to keep the tradition going.”Reach the reporter at msterrel@asu.edu

https://www.statepress.com/article/2013/04/asu-throwers-bond-bears-another-level-of-success

Slideshow: Artistic pursuits give inmates new perspective

(03/31/13 9:38pm)

Twenty inmates at Estrella Jail in Phoenix participated in a six-week program providing workshops in creative writing and storytelling as well as visual arts and movement. On Saturday, March 30, the women performed skits incorporating dance and song as well as poetry and spoken word for the final piece of the program. Read the full story here. (Photos by Molly J. Smith)

https://www.statepress.com/article/2013/03/slideshow-artistic-pursuits-give-inmates-new-perspective

ASU track & field outdoor season in full swing

(03/21/13 10:28pm)

With indoor season in the books, the ASU track and field team turns its focus outside — and unfortunately into the heat. The Sun Devils had yet to host an event this season until the Castillo Invitational on March 15 and March 16 at Sun Angel Stadium. Coach Greg Kraft used the meet as a tune-up for the beginning of the outdoor season, but he sees this weekend’s ASU Invitational as the kickoff to the outdoor season. “This is just another step in the way,” he said. “We’ll still hold out some of our NCAA kids, (and) some will be doing other events. You got to get back on the competitive wagon.” A majority of the top Sun Devil competitors did not compete in the Castillo Invite, but the ASU Invite will be some of the athletes’ first outdoor competition of the season. But the outdoor season is somewhat different, Kraft said, but it is more of a poised area for the Sun Devils. “I think we’re definitely within our comfort level,” Kraft said. “It seems like a subtle difference. … I think we’re a little more comfortable outside as a group.” Kraft believes his team is set up to prosper a little more in the outdoor season and is looking forward to seeing several of his athletes step up in this latter half of the year. “Without question, particularly on our women’s side when you add the discus with (redshirt junior) Anna Jelmini,” Kraft said. “(Redshirt junior) Chelsea Cassulo will be more of a threat in the hammer throw than the indoor weight throw as well.” Jelmini is one of four Sun Devils that earned first-team outdoor All-American honors in 2012. She had back-to-back runner-up finishes in the discus the last two seasons and is looking to capitalize this outdoor season. She will be defending her Pac-12 discus and shot put championship this year. “On the girl’s side, I think Anna will be the standout,” Kraft said on his expectations of the outdoor season. This will be the first season that Jelmini’s teammate, Cassulo, will compete for the Sun Devils in the hammer throw. It's not her first in her collegiate career, as the now-redshirt junior placed fifth overall in the NCAA outdoor championships at UNLV in 2011. Men look to rebound Senior sprinter Chris Burrows started the new season off on the right foot with a career best in the 400 meter and a second place finish in the men’s 4x400-meter relay. Kraft is expecting big things from the senior but said it’s not him that has the highest expectations for Burrows. “We need him to have a good outdoor season,” Kraft said. “(But) no one has higher expectations for Chris Burrows than Chris Burrows himself. “He’s been around long enough, so he knows what’s at stake.” High expectations are something put on several of the Sun Devil track and field athletes and no one may know that better than the potential Bowerman Award winner. Redshirt senior thrower Jordan Clarke begins his journey to track and field history, pushing for his fifth straight NCAA National Championship. That goal is something on Clarke’s radar, but Kraft didn’t seem to make a big deal of it — and for good reason, Kraft said. “We’re extremely confident in Jordan, particularly if he’s healthy,” Kraft said. “I don’t see anyone standing in his way.” Reach the reporter at msterrel@asu.edu

https://www.statepress.com/article/2013/03/asu-track-field-outdoor-season-in-full-swing

ASU track and field enters NCAA Indoor Championships

(03/08/13 12:27am)

It's a whole new season. After competing in the MPSF Championship meet on Feb. 22 and Feb. 23, the men and women Sun Devils will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., for the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 8 and March 9. But unlike the MPSF meet, the NCAA championships feature the top 16 athletes in each event. “Everybody’s got to carry their own,” coach Greg Kraft said. “You have to have champions to be a trophy team.” The men’s team is entering the weekend not only as the No. 16 in the country, but also having just defended their MPSF championship in Seattle. The meet was dominated by Jordan Clarke. The redshirt senior thrower has tossed over 20 meters multiple times in each event this year and blew out his competition in the Mountain Pacific regional meet. “The boys team will start with Clarke,” Kraft said. “Of all our players, Clarke leads by example. He’s our leader.” Clarke understands the task at hand as he will be defending his NCAA indoor championship. "I need to execute," he said. "This title is very important for me to defend. If I win, this will be my 4th NCAA title, which hasn't been done by many." Clarke is on track to be one of ASU's most decorated and successful athletes, and he knows this weekend is a first step. "It will look good for my athletic résumé and should help me with my pair-collegiate career," he said. Along with Clarke, Kraft looks at senior Chris Benard as an underdog who is destined to do big things. “Chris Benard coming in at No. 6 in the rankings is someone that could surprise,” Kraft said. “We feel he could steal the championship.” The jumper placed second in last year’s NCAA championships. He is shooting for the top spot this season. Benard is also coming off a MPSF triple jump championship victory two weekends ago. Redshirt junior Derick Hinch, junior Bryan McBride and redshirt senior Nick Happe will all also be traveling to Arkansas as well. Women continue rolling Senior Christabel Nettey is going to take the reigns for the Sun Devil women. With the absence of senior Keia Pinnick, Nettey will have to step up in a big way for ASU in the sprints and jumps. The senior multi-athlete is coming off three MPSF championship victories and will look to roll off that success into the weekend. “I’m zoned in,” Nettey said. “I’ve been waiting for this meet since we started fall training in August, and now it’s finally here.” But Kraft says the women will also be leaning on their redshirt junior thrower, Chelsea Cassulo. In her last six meets, Cassulo hasn’t left a meet without the victory. All fingers point to her keeping that streak alive. As the No. 14 seed, Cassulo is in the mix with some tough competition. The other women competitors competing in the NCAA meet will be sophomore Shelby Houlihan and redshirt junior Anna Jelmini. Sophomore Brianna Tate, and juniors Sarah Geren and Alycia Herring will also represent ASU in the 4x400 relay. "This is a fairly seasoned group," Kraft said. "They have an idea of what it takes. We're going to go there and compete."Reach the reporter at msterrel@asu.edu

https://www.statepress.com/article/2013/03/asu-track-and-field-enters-ncaa-indoor-championships

Devil Dish: FOX Sports 1 is a wannabe ESPN

(03/06/13 12:09am)

The announcement of the new network, FOX Sports 1, within the last week may be great for FOX and their affiliates, but not for the sports world. While the channel will televise college basketball, football, the UFC, NASCAR and soccer starting on Aug. 17, its goal of becoming another ESPN is far from realistic. Sure, I prefer FOX to CBS when watching football on Sundays. But ESPN's Monday Night Football is still the best, with NBC as a close second. We've all grown up with FOX as the mainstream channel to show the MLB playoffs, NFL on Sundays, NASCAR and even college basketball from year to year. Of course, it's known for broadcasting UFC on FOX lately. ESPN, however, is on another level from what FOX could ever be. Outside of the normal SportsCenter, Monday Night Football, NBA and collegiate sports, the shows surrounding primetime are what keep many viewers locked in. I mean one of FOX's shows in primetime from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET is, "Rush Hour," with Regis Philbin as the host.Huh?I don't tune in to sports channels to watch a Regis-and-Kelly style of show. No thanks. They've already lost my attention. As an avid viewer of ESPN and all of their shows, I don't see myself switching to FOX Sports 1 anytime soon. And I would be surprised if anyone outside of soccer fans else does.Reach the columnist at msterrel@asu.edu

https://www.statepress.com/article/2013/03/devil-dish-fox-sports-1-is-a-wannabe-espn

ASU track and field athletes push for National Indoor bid

(03/01/13 5:17pm)

The ASU track and field team is coming off a first-place finish for the men and a second-place finish for the women at MPSF Championship on Feb. 22 and 23. A majority of the Sun Devils, like redshirt junior Chelsea Cassulo, redshirt senior Jordan Clarke and senior Keia Pinnick, qualified for the NCAA National Indoor Championship meet on March 8 and 9. But there are still others attempting a late push into the biggest weekend of the indoor season. Junior pole-vaulter Shaylah Simpson is traveling to Seattle for the Last Chance meet. She is ranked No. 15 in her respective event and is looking to rebound this season after suffering an injury late in the 2012 season. Simpson was at one point ranked No. 9 and hopes to get ranked there or higher after this weekend’s performance. Fellow teammate junior Bryan McBride will also make the trip to Seattle with Simpson, but will compete in a different event. The junior will attempt for a qualifying leap in the high jump. McBride is coming off a second-place finish at the MPSF Championships, but wasn’t enough to put him into the NCAA meet. He’s currently ranked No. 14 nationally and will need to break the tie amongst his other six competitors across the nation at that same ranking to qualify. "Bryan is inside the bubble right now for the NCAA championship and Shaylah is just outside the bubble," coach Greg Kraft said. "This meet will be important for Bryan to protect his spot, while a big performance is needed from Shaylah." Sophomore sprinter Brianna Tate will head east to compete in the Alex Wilson Invite at Notre Dame on Friday and Saturday. Tate currently ranks No. 30 in the 400m event. While also competing in the women’s 4x400m relay, Tate is attempting to be able to compete as an individual at the NCAA championship. Tate may also try and qualify in the 200m event as well after taking a fifth place finish at the MPSF Championship. "This meet is all about having a faster track," Kraft said. "We expect Brianna to go out there and capitalize." But it’ll be redshirt junior Derick Hinch that will be representing ASU on a much higher level. The pole-vaulter will travel to Albuquerque for the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Hinch is currently ranked No. 10 in the nation and is hoping to translate his recent success into a much bigger championship. “I am super excited about going,” Hinch said. “I’m more using USA indoors as a high energy practice to prepare for NCAA’s the following Friday. While I am going to do my best in Albuquerque, the goal is to jump my highest in Arkansas and help our team win an indoor title.” Reach the reporter at msterrel@asu.edu

https://www.statepress.com/article/2013/03/asu-track-and-field-athletes-push-for-national-indoor-bid

ASU track and field to compete in MPSF, first championship meet

(02/22/13 12:41am)

The ASU track and field team was in a much different position last year heading into its first championship meet. The men were ranked No. 7, and the women weren’t ranked at all. This year is a different story, and the potential for success may be at an all-time high for both men and women when they compete in the MPSF Championships in Seattle. The women’s team has moved from being unranked at the beginning of the indoor season to being No. 8 in the country. Senior multi-competitor Keia Pinnick has been a key factor in the women’s success and has admired her team's effort so far this season. “I am so proud of the girls,” Pinnick said. “I’m really excited to be experiencing this success with them. We have risen high numbers, but as a whole, (we) don’t plan on settling until we get to the top.” Pinnick, who’s ranked No. 16 in the 60-meter hurdles, will attempt to defend her MPSF championship. Her score of 3,975 put her in the top spot for the pentathlon, which she ranks No. 2 in currently. However, Pinnick wants to win the 60-meter hurdles this season after finishing in second last season. “(Our) main goal is to come out with a MPSF championship and help lead to that win,” she said. “We are making a name for ourselves, and this weekend will be the first big showing of what we really are trying to prove.” While Pinnick competed in the 800-meter last season with a second place finish, sophomore distance runner Shelby Houlihan will also look to come away with the top title. “I feel very prepared for this race, and I know I’m in better shape now than I was last year at this time,” she said. “I also have a little more confidence.” She’ll look to improve as much as possible on her already impressive No. 7 ranking in 800-meter, but she also will be having trying something different in Seattle. “I feel excited and a little nervous going into this championship meet, because I’m running the mile for the first time this season,” Houlihan said. “To be able to win the mile, I’m going to need to stay focused throughout the race and stay up near the front.” Men get back on track After starting the season at No. 6 in the rankings, the ASU men’s team has fluctuated meet by meet. The Sun Devils broke the top five for three weeks before falling eight spots last week to No. 13, where they sit currently. Redshirt junior sprinter Ryan Milus was among the top in the country in the 60-meter for weeks before dropping to No. 21 recently. However, Milus hasn’t been completely healthy during the last few meets according to coach Greg Kraft. Milus will attempt to climb back into the top 10 or better with an elite performance in Seattle. Redshirt senior distance runner Nick Happe will run with his No. 10 ranking in the 3000-meter and No. 39 in the mile to the first championship. Happe placed sixth last season in the 3000-meter, but an improvement is expected as he has already outdone his time that he recorded at last year’s meet. In the pole vault, No. 8 redshirt junior Derick Hinch is another competitor that the men’s team will lean on moving forward. Hinch will look to improve on his fifth place finish from last year’s championship meet. Kraft expects big things from both the men and women’s teams in their first championship meet. He stated the men need to find the groove they were on early in the season, while the women should continue their recent success.Reach the reporter at msterrel@asu.edu

https://www.statepress.com/article/2013/02/asu-track-and-field-to-compete-in-mpsf-first-championship-meet
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