SEATTLE, Wash. - The Portland State track team closed out the regular-season today at the Husky Classic and ran against the SEC's, Pac-10's and Big-10's finest. The men's distance squad and senior
Andrew Salg highlighted the day, setting a new Viking record in the 5,000-meters.
Salg, a native of Van Nuys, Calif., surpassed the old record by almost 17 seconds with a time of 14 minutes and 50.81 seconds in the 5,000-meters. He broke Chris Hollis' record set in 2004. It was Salg's first start in the indoor 5,000-meters, but, qualified for the 5,000-meters at the indoor championship with an 8:32 in the 3,000-meters earlier in the year.
Junior
Tony Crisofulli improved his own PR and school-record in the 800-meters with a 1:50.32. Generally a very respectable time at meets, Crisofulli finished 21st in the event as 16 athletes recorded sub-1:50 minute times and seven runners met the NCAA Championship automatic qualifying time of 1:48.
Freshman
Zach Carpenter qualified for the 5,000-meters at the Big Sky Championship with an 8:29.28 in the 3,000-meters. It was his personal-best and now ranks No. 5 on the indoor list.
J.J. Rosenberg also qualified for the indoor championship, recording a 49.01 in the 400-meters, surpassing his previous-best by two seconds. Rosenberg, a junior transfer from Pendleton, Ore., moved up to No. 2 all-time in the PSU record book and only trails record-holder Mitch Whalen by .23 seconds.
Rosenberg also helped the men's 4x400 relay team at the end of the night, as the team, featuring Crisofulli,
DeShawn Shead and
Nate Lightner, ran a 3:20.58. The Vikings will wait to see if the time holds up and if they will compete at the Big Sky Championship. The top-eight teams will compete at the championship.
The Viks will take a weeks rest and those who qualified will compete at the Big Sky Indoor Championships in Pocatello, Idaho Feb. 25-26.
