Track teams return to Husky country

The Portland State men’s and women’s track teams head to Seattle, Wash., today for two days of competition at the University of Washington-hosted UW Invitational.

The UW Invitational marks the second of three meets in the indoor season in which the Vikings will compete at Washington’s Dempsey Indoor track complex.

For the first time this season, the Vikings will field competitors in the multi-event pentathlon and heptathlon. One such student-athlete is junior Joenisha Vinson, who will compete in the five-event pentathlon (60-meter

hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and the 800m).

“I’m looking forward to achieving the goals I have set for myself,” Vinson said. “I’m looking forward to doing way better than I did the first time.”

Junior J.J. Rosenberg will represent PSU in the heptathlon (60m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 60m hurdles, pole vault and 1,000m). Rosenberg will be competing in his first multi-event as a Viking.

The Vikings look to continue improving after last weekend’s Cherry and Silver Invitational in New Mexico, where Vinson and teammate Geronne Black each broke school records in the 60m hurdles and 60m sprint, respectively.

“I think we will do good, because following last week we did great, and this weekend should be another good track meet,” Vinson said. “Everyone wants to leave the track meet with good results.”

In the Big Sky Conference standings, Portland State holds the top times in five events, all but one of which are on the women’s side.

Black holds the conference’s best times in the 60m, and Vinson holds the top spot in the 60m hurdles. Meanwhile, Amber Rozcicha tops out the times in the 800m.

Senior Karene King holds the best time in the 200m and was named the conference’s track Athlete of the Week Tuesday for her 24.31-second finish in the event. With that time, she currently ranks No. 35 in the NCAA in the event.

On the men’s team, Tony Crisofulli holds the conference’s best time in the men’s 800m.?