OGDEN, Utah - The Portland State athletic department was a direct beneficiary of a scoring correction from the Big Sky Track and Field Championship in two ways today: Moving up in the women's final team standings at the championship and clinching its first-ever Big Sky All-Sports trophy.
The women's track team, originally finishing in seventh and 0.5 points behind Idaho State in the final team standings, moved up to sixth place overall in the standings after a scoring correction in the women's high jump competition.
Originally, Montana's Gwenn Abbott and Northern Colorado Kelly Coomes tied for fourth-place and Montana State's Jessica Greany finished fifth. With two athletes finishing fourth, by default, the next athlete should finish sixth. The error gave Idaho State an extra point in the team standings. Upon recognition of the error, the Big Sky made the adjustment in the scoring, forcing PSU and ISU to flip-flop in the overall standings.
The sixth-place finish by Portland State, 65 points, is the best under third year Head Coach
Ronnye Harrison. The Vikings have improved each year under the Portland native, finishing ninth in 2009 and eighth in 2010. The team was one point shy of fifth place.
The switch in the championship standings gave the department one extra point in the Big Sky's All-Sports Trophy standings, moving PSU into a first-place tie with Montana at 83 points. The Grizzlies would have won the trophy outright, leaving the Vikings one point shy, had the standings remained as is. Northern Arizona claimed the men's all-sport trophy with 68 points. The PSU men finished with 13 points.
It is the first time Portland State claimed the all-sports trophy as the Viks won Big Sky Championships in volleyball, women's basketball and golf. The women's soccer team finished second in the regular season in fall 2010 as well.
Check GoViks.com within the coming days for the official announcement of the Vikings NCAA West Regional qualifiers. The regional will be in Eugene, Ore., May 26-28.
