MEET NOTES | BIG SKY CONFERENCE NOTES

MEET SPECIFICS:
Feb. 27-March 1 – Big Sky Indoor Championships – Pocatello, Idaho – Holt Arena
 
MEET SCHEDULE (PSU entries only; all times MT):
Thursday, Feb. 27
Men's Heptathlon:
Start               Event (PSU entries)
12 p.m.           Men's Heptathlon – 60 Meters (Gable, Lewis)
(30 min          Men's Heptathlon – Long Jump (Gable, Lewis)
between         Men's Heptathlon – Shot Put (Gable, Lewis)
events)           Men's Heptathlon – High Jump (Gable, Lewis)
 
Women's Heptathlon:
Start               Event (PSU entries)
12:15 p.m.      Women's Pentathlon – 60-Meter Hurdles (Jackson)
(30 min          Women's Pentathlon – High Jump (Jackson)
between         Women's Pentathlon – Shot Put (Jackson)
events)           Women's Pentathlon – Long Jump (Jackson)
                        Women's Pentathlon – 800 Meters (Jackson)
 
Friday, Feb. 28
Men's Heptathlon:
Start               Event (PSU entries)
10:30 a.m.      Men's Heptathlon – 60-Meter Hurdles (Gable, Lewis)
(30 min          Men's Heptathlon – Pole Vault (Gable, Lewis)
between         Men's Heptathlon – 1,000 Meters (Gable, Lewis)
events)          
 
Field Events:
Start               Event (PSU entries)
5 p.m.              Women's High Jump (Jackson)
6 p.m.              Women's Shot Put (Johnson)
6 p.m.              Women's Long Jump (Simms, Moore)
 
Running Events (women run first):
Start               Event (PSU entries)
4 p.m.              Women's 60-Meter Hurdles – Prelims (Jackson, Ratcliff)
4:35 p.m.        Women's 400 Meters – Prelims (Diggs)
                        Men's 400 Meters – Prelims (Prince)
5:05 p.m.        Women's 60 Meters – Prelims (Ratcliff, Settle, Simms, White, Jackson)
                        Men's 60 Meters – Prelims (Kubisiak, Prince)
~5:50 p.m.     Men's 800 Meters – Prelims (Fleck, Richardson)
6:05 p.m.        Women's 200 Meters – Prelims (Settle, Diggs, Ratcliff, Toliver)
                        Men's 200 Meters – Prelims (Prince)
6:40 p.m.        Women's 5,000 Meters – Finals (Mayfield, Trapp)
7:20 p.m.        Women's DMR – Finals (Miller, Trapp, Contos, Loveland)
                        Men's DMR – Finals (Wood, Seibert, Richardson, Fleck)
 
Saturday, Feb. 15
Field Events:
Start               Event (PSU entries)
10 a.m.            Men's Triple Jump (Okoronkwo, Stipic)
12 p.m.           Men's High Jump (Tufty, Lewis, Robinson)
1 p.m.              Women's Triple Jump (Moore)
 
Running Events (women run first):
Start               Event (PSU entries)
12:30 p.m.      Women's Mile – Finals (Dean)
                        Men's Mile – Finals (Brown)
12:55 p.m.      Women's 60-Meter Hurdles – Finals
1:15 p.m.        Women's 400 Meters – Finals
                        Men's 400 Meters – Finals
1:35 p.m.        Women's 60 Meters – Finals
                        Men's 60 Meters – Finals
~2:07 p.m.     Men's 800 Meters – Finals
2:15 p.m.        Women's 200 Meters – Finals
                        Men's 200 Meters – Finals
2:45 p.m.        Women's 3,000 Meters – Finals (Mayfield, Trapp, Dean)
                        Men's 3,000 Meters – Finals (Brown)
3:15 p.m.        Women's 4x400-Meter Relay (Ratcliff, Toliver, Diggs, Tollefson, Miller, Jackson)
                        Men's 4x400-Meter Relay (Prince, Wood, Gable, Lewis, Kubisiak)
4 p.m.             Awards Presentation
 
UW INDOOR PREVIEW RECAP:
Portland State athletes hit 11 Big Sky qualifying marks at the season-opening UW Indoor Preview Jan. 18 at Dempsey Indoor in Seattle, Wash. Sophomore T-Roy Brown and Gifton Okoronkwo qualified for the PSU men, as Brown qualified while setting a new school record in the 3,000 meters (8:21.04), and Okoronkwo qualified in the triple jump (46-02.00; 14.07m). The women, meanwhile, hit nine qualifying marks, with CeCelia Jackson and Jazmin Ratcliff qualifying in two events each. Both Jackson and Ratcliff qualified in the 60-meter hurdles (Ratcliff at 8.56, Jackson at 8.67), while Jackson also qualified in the high jump (5-05; 1.65m) and Ratcliff qualified in the 60 meters (7.65). Besides them, Sarah Dean (9:38.50) and Camelia Mayfield (9:52.86) qualified in the 3,000 meters, while Whitney Diggs, Montaisha Moore and Baileh Simms qualified in the 400 meters (56.54), triple jump (38-00.75; 11.60m) and long jump (18-10.75; 5.76m), respectively.
 
CHERRY & SILVER INVITATIONAL RECAP:
Freshmen Whitney Diggs and Gifton Okoronkwo starred for the Vikings at the Cherry & Silver Invitational, Jan. 24-25, at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, N.M. Diggs lowered her Big Sky-leading 400 time to 55.65 (55.76 after altitude conversion), moving her to No. 2 all-time at Portland State in the event. Diggs also qualified for the Big Sky meet in the 200 with a time of 24.71 seconds (24.78 after conversion), moving her to No. 7 at PSU in the event. Okoronkwo, meanwhile, jumped a Big Sky-leading 47-08.50 (14.54m) in the triple jump, and upped his PR in the long jump to 21-02 (6.45m). Okoronkwo now ranks second all-time in the triple jump at Portland State, and has cleared 14 meters in each of his first two meets at the school. Besides Diggs and Okoronkwo, junior Jazmin Ratcliff also qualified in the 200 meters with a time of 24.97 seconds (25.04 after conversion).
 
UW INVITATIONAL RECAP:
The Vikings set three school records and either set or lowered eight Big Sky qualifying marks at the UW Invitational, Jan. 31-Feb. 1, at Dempsey Indoor in Seattle, Wash. Sophomore Sheldon Prince and seniors Sarah Dean and Camelia Mayfield set school records in the men's 400 (48.64), women's mile (4:51.32) and women's 5,000 meters (17:02.49), respectively. The meet also included the PSU pentathlon debut for freshman CeCelia Jackson, who moved to fourth all-time in the event at Portland State with a score of 3,547 points. Jackson also lowered her Big Sky qualifying-mark in the 60-meter hurdles to a new-PR 8.65 seconds, along with junior Jazmin Ratcliff, who lowered her 60-meter hurdle time to 8.52 seconds. Ratcliff also lowered her season best in the 60 meters to 7.64 seconds, while freshman Genna Settle qualified for the Big Sky meet in the 60 meters in a new personal-best 7.67 seconds. Additionally, freshman Whitney Diggs lowered her Big Sky-leading time in the 400 meters to 55.38 seconds.
 
ARMORY COLLEGIATE INVITATIONAL RECAP:
The Vikings' freshmen women shined for the team during an 'unbelievable' first day at the Armory Collegiate Invitational, Feb. 7-8, at the New Balance Track and Field Center in New York, N.Y. Baileh Simms, Whitney Diggs, Genna Settle and CeCelia Jackson led the Vikings on the first day of the meet, as each set new personal bests in their respective events. Simms moved into the Big Sky lead in the long jump with a mark of 19-07.50 (5.98m), while Diggs lowered her Big Sky-leading time in the 400 to 55.29 seconds. Settle also ran a seasonal best in the 200 by a PSU runner, as she finished second in the finals of the college division 200 in 24.63 seconds. Besides the freshmen, sophomore Sheldon Prince became just the second PSU men's runner to ever break 22 seconds in the indoor 200, as he finished third in the prelims of the college division 200 in 21.92 seconds. Junior Jazmin Ratcliff, meanwhile, moved to No. 2 all-time in the 60-meter hurdles at Portland State, as she won her heat of the championship division prelims in 8.49 seconds. Overall, the Vikings set or lowered seven Big Sky qualifying marks, five of which came from the freshman group of Simms, Diggs, Settle and Jackson.
 
HUSKY CLASSIC:
The Vikings set 29 personal bests at the Husky Classic, Feb. 14-15, at Dempsey Indoor in Seattle, Wash. Sophomore Michael Kubisiak set a new personal best in the 60 meters by almost a full tenth of a second, as he finished in 6.91 seconds to move into a tie for second all-time in the event at Portland State. Freshman CeCelia Jackson also shaved a full tenth of a second off her PR in the 60-meter hurdles, as she placed third in the finals of the event in 8.51 seconds. The Vikings' men's and women's distance crews, meanwhile, set 10 personal bests of their own, with six set by the men and four by the women. On the men's side, sophomore T-Roy Brown set a new PR in the mile, while freshmen Nathan Fleck and Ben Richardson each set PRs in the 800, and Neil Seibert, Jonathan Talik, and Jake Schwartz set new PRs in the 3,000 meters. On the women's side, junior Erica Contos set new personal bests in the 800 and mile, while Olivia Loveland joined her with a new PR In the 800 and Maggie Coleman joined her with a new PR in the mile.
 
YOUTH IN REVOLT:
The Vikings have gotten good production out of their underclassmen this season, as 14 of the Vikings' 22 Big Sky automatic qualifying marks came from underclassmen, including nine combined from freshmen Gifton Okoronkwo (Triple Jump), Whitney Diggs (200m, 400m), CeCelia Jackson (60m Hurdles, High Jump, pentathlon), Baileh Simms (Long Jump) and Genna Settle (60m, 200m). The Vikings will need more strong showings from their youth this season, as the men's roster features 19 underclassmen among its 23 athletes (eight freshmen, 11 sophomores), while the women's roster features 16 underclassmen among its 27 athletes (11 freshmen, five sophomores).
 
RECORD BREAKERS:
Sophomore T-Roy Brown opened the Vikings' indoor season with a school-record performance in the 3,000 meters at the UW Indoor Preview, the first of four school-record performances by the Vikings this season. Brown set the 3,000 record at 8:21.04, while Sheldon Prince, Sarah Dean and Camelia Mayfield followed with records in the men's 400, women's mile and women's 5,000 meters, respectively, at the UW Invitational. Prince set the 400 record at 48.64, while Dean and Mayfield set the mile and 5,000-meter records at 4:51.32 and 17:02.49, respectively. Mayfield held the previous record in the 5,000 meters, but broke her old mark by over 40 seconds.
 
COMING UP:
The NCAA Indoor National Championships will be March 14-15 in Albuquerque, N.M.
 
PSU BIG SKY AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS:
Men
T-Roy Brown – 3,000m – 8:21.04 – UW Indoor Preview (1/18/14)
Michael Kubisiak – 60m – 6.91 – Husky Classic (2/15/14)
Gifton Okoronkwo – Triple Jump – 47-08.50 (14.54m) – Cherry & Silver Invitational (1/25/14)
Sheldon Prince – 200m – 21.92 – Armory Collegiate Invitational (2/7/14)
Sheldon Prince – 400m – 48.64 – UW Invitational (2/1/14)
Rockwell Tufty – High Jump – 6-06.75 (2.00m) – Cherry & Silver Invitational (1/24/14)
Women
Sarah Dean – Mile – 4:51.32 – UW Invitational (2/1/14)
Sarah Dean – 3,000m – 9:38.50 – UW Indoor Preview (1/18/14)
Whitney Diggs – 200m – 24.71 – Cherry & Silver Invitational (1/24/14)
Whitney Diggs – 400m – 55.29 – Armory Collegiate Invitational (2/7/14)
CeCelia Jackson – 60m Hurdles – 8.51 – Husky Classic (2/15/14)
CeCelia Jackson – High Jump – 5-05 (1.65m) – UW Indoor Preview (1/18/14)
CeCelia Jackson – Pentathlon – 3,547 points – UW Invitational (1/31/14)
Camelia Mayfield – 3,000m – 9:52.86 – UW Indoor Preview (1/18/14)
Camelia Mayfield – 5,000m – 17:02.49 – UW Invitational (1/31/14)
Montaisha Moore – Triple Jump – 38-00.75 (11.60m) – UW Indoor Preview (1/18/14)
Jazmin Ratcliff – 60m – 7.61 – Husky Classic (2/15/14)
Jazmin Ratcliff – 200m – 24.97 – Cherry & Silver Invitational (1/24/14)
Jazmin Ratcliff – 60m Hurdles – 8.49 – Armory Collegiate Invitational (2/7/14)
Genna Settle – 60m – 7.64 – Armory Collegiate Invitational (2/7/14)
Genna Settle – 200m – 24.63 – Armory Collegiate Invitational (2/7/14)
Baileh Simms – Long Jump – 19-07.50 (5.98m) – Armory Collegiate Invitational (2/7/14)
 
BIG SKY EVENT RANKINGS:
Men
60 Meters
6. Michael Kubisiak               6.91 – Husky Classic (2/15/14)
13. Sheldon Prince                7.03 – Husky Classic (2/15/14)
 
200 Meters
6. Sheldon Prince                  21.92 – Armory Collegiate Invitational (2/7/14)
 
400 Meters
6. Sheldon Prince                  48.64 – UW Invitational (2/1/14)
 
800 Meters
12. Nathan Fleck                   1:54.88 – Husky Classic (2/15/14)
17. Ben Richardson              1:55.74 – Husky Classic (2/15/14)
 
Mile
12. T-Roy Brown                   4:12.35 – Husky Classic (2/15/14)
 
3,000 Meters
9. T-Roy Brown                      8:21.04 – UW Indoor Preview (1/18/14)
 
4x400m Relay
11. Portland State                 3:22.01 – UW Indoor Preview (1/18/14)
 
DMR
2. Portland State                   10:16.83 – UW Invitational (1/31/14)
 
High Jump
T-9. Rockwell Tufty                6-06.75 (2.00m) – Cherry & Silver Invitational (1/24/14)
12. Nevin Lewis                      6-06.25 (1.99m) – UW Indoor Preview (1/18/14)
T-13. Kevin Robinson            6-04.75 (1.95m) – Husky Classic (2/15/14)
 
Triple Jump
1. Gifton Okoronkwo             47-08.50 (14.54m) – Cherry & Silver Invitational (1/25/14)
11. Tyson Stipic                     43-04.25 (13.21m) – Husky Classic (2/15/14)
 
Heptathlon
11. Mitchell Gable                  4206 points – UW Invitational (2/1/14)
16. Nevin Lewis                     NP – UW Invitational (2/1/14)
 
Women
60 Meters
4. Jazmin Ratcliff                    7.61 – Husky Classic (2/15/14)
7. Genna Settle                       7.64 – Armory Collegiate Invitational (2/7/14)
10. Baileh Simms                   7.74 – Armory Collegiate Invitational (2/7/14)
13. Adia White                        7.85 – UW Indoor Preview (1/18/14)
15. Cecelia Jackson              7.87 – UW Invitational (2/1/14)
 
200 Meters
5. Genna Settle                      24.63 – Armory Collegiate Invitational (2/7/14)
7. Whitney Diggs                   24.78 @ – Cherry & Silver Invitational (1/24/14)
10. Jazmin Ratcliff                 25.04 @ – Cherry & Silver Invitational (1/24/14)
11. Dejuanae Toliver            25.23 @ – Armory Collegiate Invitational (2/7/14)
 
400 Meters
1. Whitney Diggs                   55.29 – Armory Collegiate Invitational (2/7/14)
 
Mile
3. Sarah Dean                       4:51.32 – UW Invitational (2/1/14)
 
3,000 Meters
2. Sarah Dean                       9:38.50 – UW Indoor Preview (1/18/14)
7. Camelia Mayfield             9:52.86 – UW Indoor Preview (1/18/14)
18. Cheryn Trapp                 10:13.96 – UW Indoor Preview (1/18/14)
 
5,000 Meters
3. Camelia Mayfield             17:02.49 – UW Invitational (1/31/14)
16. Cheryn Trapp                 17:44.46 – UW Invitational (1/31/14)
 
60m Hurdles
2. Jazmin Ratcliff                   8.49 – Armory Collegiate Invitational (2/7/14)
3. CeCelia Jackson              8.51 – Husky Classic (2/15/14)
 
4x400m Relay
9. Portland State                   3:54.67 – UW Indoor Preview (1/18/14)
 
DMR
9. Portland State                   NT
 
High Jump
10. CeCelia Jackson             5-05 (1.65m) – UW Indoor Preview (1/18/14)
 
Long Jump
1. Baileh Simms                     19-07.50 (5.98m) – Armory Collegiate Invitational (2/7/14)
16. Montaisha Moore            17-09.50 (5.42m) – Cherry & Silver Invitational (1/24/14)
 
Triple Jump
5. Montaisha Moore              38-00.75 (11.60m) – UW Indoor Preview (1/18/14)
 
Shot Put
17. Sydney Johnson              40-04 (12.29m) – Husky Classic (2/15/14)
 
Pentathlon
3. CeCelia Jackson               3547 points – UW Invitational (1/31/14)
 
@ - Time altitude adjusted for conference rankings
 
BIG SKY PRESEASON POLL:
The Portland State women's and men's track and field teams were picked fourth and 10th, respectively, in the Big Sky's preseason coaches' poll. The Viking women earned 79 points and one first-place vote on their side of the poll, putting them fourth behind Sacramento State (113 points, six first-place votes), Northern Arizona (99 points, one first-place vote) and Weber State (95 points, three first-place votes). The Viking men, meanwhile, earned 23 points in their side of the poll. Northern Arizona was the near-unanimous pick to win the conference on the men's side, picking up 10 of the 11 possible first-place votes. 
 
VIKINGS UNDER COACH HARRISON:
Six-year head coach Ronnye Harrison has led the Portland State men's and women's track and field teams to several records in his tenure at the school. Harrison has coached 27 Big Sky individual champions in his tenure, including 19 in the sprints. Additionally, four athletes have been named Big Sky Athletes of the Meet, while athletes have won 38 athletes Big Sky silver and bronze medals (21 silver, 17 bronze) and earned 65 All-Big Sky honors. The Vikings have also won six straight Big Sky titles in the outdoor 100 meters under Harrison, and set five Big Sky Conference records (women's indoor 55, indoor 60, indoor 200, outdoor 100 and outdoor 200).