Women’s track and field excels in MPSF Championships
By Chris Nguyen
Feb. 28, 2011 3:16 a.m.
On its third trip to Seattle this season, the UCLA women’s track and field team once again flexed its prowess.
And this time, the Bruins competed at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships with commendable results.
The first day of competition was highlighted by freshman Ida Storm’s success in the 20-pound weight throw. Storm dominated the competition, winning the event by nearly 9 feet, with a throw of 67-11, good for No. 7 in the NCAA this season.
The Bruin runners also had favorable outcomes this weekend. Senior Shannon Murakami finished seventh in the 5,000 meters with a time of 16:38.13. Freshman pentathletes Tatum Souza and Kimmie Conner finished fifth and eighth overall, respectively. Souza scored 3,719 points, while Conner finished with 3,396 points.
Senior sprinter Lindsay Rowe began her meet by finishing with a second-place mark of 8.25 seconds in the 60m hurdles preliminary race on Friday.
Rowe continued her impressive performance into Saturday, placing second in the 60m hurdles finals with a time of 8.35 seconds. Her second-place finish earned her team eight points. But Rowe wasn’t the only Bruin to perform well on the second day of competition.
The 4×400m relay team, comprised of seniors Ashley McLaughlin and Joy Eaton, sophomore Turquoise Thompson, and freshman Breyonna Hunter, placed fourth at the meet with a mark of 3:38.07. Freshman Tamara Purpura finished in ninth place in the 800m with a season-best time of 2:10.24.
The jumpers at the MPSF Championships also had a field day.
Freshman Alexis Walker tied for sixth place with a clearance of 5-6.50 in the high jump. Redshirt junior Ke’Nyia Richardson finished eighth, while senior Dayna Hill placed 13th in the triple jump. Richardson marked her performance at 39-1, while Hill finished with a mark of 37-8.5.
Sophomore pole vaulter Allison Koressel rounded out the MPSF Championships for UCLA with a lifetime-best clearance of 13-1.50, finishing ninth overall.
Compiled by Chris Nguyen, Bruin Sports contributor.
