Viking Outdoor Track and Field Wraps Up Oregon Preview

The Portland State outdoor track and field team opened the 2008 season at the Oregon Preview, Saturday. The Vikings had four athletes meet the qualifying standard for the 2008 Big Sky Outdoor Championships.

Junior Peter Jason Tait placed second, set a new personal record and qualified for the Big Sky championships in the 110M hurdles. Tait had a time of 14.73. The time was .3 faster than he previous best and moved his name up on the Portland State all-time top-10 list to fourth place. Tait also competed in the 200m and finished with a time of 23.83.

“It takes a while to hit your rhythm in 110's but that's better than Keith Gill (PSU's 110mH record holder) opened up a few years ago,” said head coach Kebba Tolbert. “He can get down to where Keith was by the end of the season with better endurance and technical refinement.”

Senior Trevor Rollinger tied Tait for the Vikings top placing with a second-place finish. Rollinger finished the 400m hurdles with a time of 54.41. The senior is a three-time Big Sky 400m hurdles champion. His time secured him a place and a chance to win his fourth conference 400m hurdles crown.

Sophomore Nkeiru Uwoaba was Portland State's third player to qualify for the Big Sky championships, Saturday. Ugwoaba leaped 18' 6.5” in the long jump. The mark puts her name sixth on Portland State's all-time top-10 list and qualifies her for the conference championships.

Caressa Sims was the Vikings last conference qualifier on the weekend with a distance of 164' 8” in the hammer throw. The distance was 19' short of her Portland State record throw of 183' 8”.

Other notable marks: 1,500m Honisty Baek (3rd, 4:51.94), Adriane Wai (5th, 4:52.33)... 3,000m Stephanie Deever (10:47.21); Emily Hoover (10:47.88); Jesse Cronin (8:46.71); Nate Endicott (8:54.92)... Long jump Amirah Karim (17' 11.75”); Keighty Gallagher (16' 3”)... Shot put Caressa Sims (39' 10”); Tiffany Bigham (37' 1”)... 2,000m Steeplechase Nate Endicott (6:18.07); Charlie Goman (6:48.60); Reid Ballinger (7:05.13); Brian Pinkstaff (7:28.42)... Javelin Nick Trubachik (189' 9”); David Moore (178' 9”); Westin Morrill (178' 4”).

“This meet was a good opportunity for us to open up our season in a low-key format,” said Tolbert. “When you consider that we just finished a challenging week of final exams, we competed very well. “

The outdoor track and field team will be back in action this Saturday as they compete at the UTEP Springtime Invitational. Check Back to www.GoViks.com for updates and results.

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