NCAA bids on the line as Huskies host MPSF championship
February 29, 2008
Photo by Jennifer Au.
Junior Jordan Boase hands off the baton to senior Alex Harcourt in the men’s 4x400 relay during the Husky Open indoor track meet Feb. 16. The Huskies 4x400 team came in second. The Huskies are scheduled to compete this weekend in the MPSF indoor meet.
The University of Washington will host the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) indoor track championship at Dempsey Indoor this weekend.
The MPSF championship is the equivalent of the Pac-10 championships for indoor track, as the Pac-10 does not officially sponsor indoor track.
“This will be a small, very elite track and field meet,” UW coach Greg Metcalf said. “Coming out and defending this year will be difficult — it’s the first real test for our track programs for 2008.”
The UW figures to face its stiffest competition from Arizona State, which is ranked No. 1 for the men’s team and No. 2 for the women’s.
The MPSF indoor championship will take place today from noon to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This afternoon will focus on multiple events, like the distance medley relay (DMR), several field events, and the 200- and 5,000-meter races.
Saturday’s midday lineup will showcase the finals for the 4x400-meter relays, several sprint and distance events, and the rest of the field events.
The MPSF indoor championship presents a great chance for several Huskies to qualify for the NCAA championships.
Jake Schmitt, who ran a 14:04 in the 5,000, is poised to claim an NCAA bid.
“He’s going to need to chop off about 10 seconds or better in order to qualify for the NCAA championships,” assistant coach Jimmy Bean said.
Katie Follett, who qualified for the NCAAs in the mile during the Husky Classic, will attempt to grab another NCAA bid in the 3,000-.
“If she wins, she’ll probably qualify for the NCAA championships, because there’s so many good girls in [the field],” Bean said.
The relays may also qualify some Huskies for the NCAA meet.
“Our women’s DMR is poised to run really fast,” Bean added. “With a healthy quarter-miler, [they’re] all NCAA class.”
The UW track team is hoping for several more NCAA qualifiers in other events as well.
“Our men’s [4x400 meter relay] will have a good shot at lowering their mark and getting an NCAA qualifier, and I ultimately believe our vaulters are poised for breakout,” Bean said.
UW track and field standout long jumper Norris Frederick will defend his MPSF championship against stiff challenges from Reindell Cole of CSU Northridge.
“It will be a great competition for him,” Bean said.
Spectator admission to the MPSF championship is free.
[Reach reporter Honsen Lin at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.]
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