With the big meets out of the way and the Portland State track and field squad preparing for the conference championships, the Oregon Relays gave the Vikings a big confidence boost.
With the big meets out of the way and the Portland State track and field squad preparing for the conference championships, the Oregon Relays gave the Vikings a big confidence boost.
The Oregon Relays featured several top-three finishes for Vikings that included sprinters Geronne Black and Ashley Frazier. Some Portland State athletes, like freshman Montaisha Moore, who recorded the third best women’s triple jump in the Big Sky Conference this year, just cemented their place in the conference leading up to the championship.
This meet featured big numbers and record-breaking performances, but the Vikings are more concerned with preparing for the Big Sky Conference Championships, and the Oregon Relays were treated as an opportunity to tune up and get race-ready.
“It didn’t show me anything new to say that we’re going to be any worse at [the conference championships],” head coach Ronnye Harrison said. “It showed me where people are going to land at [the conference championships]. But then if you add in the excitement and anxiety that you have being at a conference meet, then some people are going to do well.”
At this point in the season, the Vikings are looking for more technical improvements as opposed to improvements in the standings. The hope is that the athletes will peak at the conference meet, not now. Looking at the places for all the Vikings, this meet looks like it was very successful; however, Harrison wasn’t as happy with the technique.
“I’m not looking for record times, I am looking just for improvements from a technical perspective,” Harrison said. “If I had any let down, [it’s that] I didn’t have any of the technical stuff. Some people had [personal records] and that’s all fine and good, but at this point in the year I am looking for way better execution. And I didn’t quite get what I was looking for in terms of execution. But it’s over.”
With this meet coming to an end, the Vikings are that much closer to the championships. The women are looking to repeat or best their top-three finish from the indoor season, which would be a huge get for the program.
“We got a pretty good shot at getting back in that third place spot,” assistant coach Seth Henson said.
“It would be outstanding,” Harrison said. “If we were able to punch a third place in the outdoor, man, it’s just going to get better from now on. Our recruiting is going okay. We’re adding top-level athletes in events we don’t even have people in this year. It would be an outstanding year overall.”
On the men’s side, senior Sean Mackelvie finished fourth in the javelin at the Oregon Relays. He had a season-best throw, which moved him into first place in the Big Sky Conference.
“We’re hoping that Sean can get a Big Sky Championship gold in the javelin,” Henson said.
Portland State has one more meet before the conference championships. The Vikings will be returning to Eugene on May 5 to compete in the Oregon Twilight meet. Four days after the Oregon Twilight, on May 9, Portland State will be heading to Bozeman, Mont., for the championship. The meet is a four-day event.
