Track and field concludes season at West Regional

Despite three fine individual performances, the Portland State track and field team concluded their 2008 outdoor season this weekend at the NCAA West Regional Championships in Northridge, Calif.

After winning the 100-meter dash at the Big Sky Conference Championships two weeks ago, sophomore sprinter Jernise Saunders finished 13th of 16 competitors in the stellar field.

Although her time of 11.96 seconds set a new personal record, Saunders would wind up more than a half of a second behind USC senior Jessica Onyepunuka, who won the event in 11.34 seconds. Saunders’ time was more than a tenth of a second faster than her previous best of 12.07 seconds, which she ran at the Big Sky Championships.

Sophomore Nkeiru Ugwoaba also recorded a personal best at the meet in her event, the triple jump, with a distance of 41″1′. That effort was good enough to land her in a tie for 14th place.

Both Ugwoaba and Saunders could return to the meet featuring the best track and field athletes on the west coast next season.

Saunders’ times should continue to improve as a member of the program that has produced four of the last five 100m Big Sky Champions. Ugwoaba’s versatility could help her find her way into the elite group of athletes. Ugwoaba also has spent time as a member of the Vikings’ 4x100m relay team.

Senior thrower Caressa Sims was the only dual-event competitor for the Vikings, finishing 17th in the shot put and 13th in the hammer throw.

After fouling on her first two attempts in the hammer, Sims’ final throw in the event measured 174″9′, far below her best this season.

Sims’ throw of 47″3′ in the shot put tied a Portland State record and matched her personal best in that event. It was the Portland native’s second consecutive trip to the NCAA West Regionals, as she ends her Portland State career on top of the school record books in hammer throw and shot put.