ISU Hosts Over 90 Squads for Classic

02.13.2008 | Track and Field

By: cyclones.com

AMES, Iowa- Iowa State prepares for its largest home meet of the year Thursday, Friday and Saturday, playing host to the ISU Classic at the Lied Recreation Facility. Over 90 teams from all over the country will be competing.

The Cyclones are coming off consecutive trips to Lincoln, Neb. where they will compete at the Big 12 Championships, on Feb. 29-March 1.

"With the conference meet two weeks away, the Classic will give us a chance to see where we are as a team," said Iowa State track and field head coach Corey Ihmels.

Junior Big 12 runner-up in the 60-meter dash, Jared Lewis will lead ISU in the sprints. Lewis participates in the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes. In the 60-meter hurdles, senior Sterling Frison will look to capture his third title this year in the event at Lied. Frison took first in the event at the Holiday Preview and ISU Open. Other sprinters competing this weekend include, former Iowa State football player Derron Montgomery (400-meters), Scott Lynn (60-meter hurdles) and James Robinson (400-meters), among others.

On the women's side, Lashawn Wright looks to standout in the 60-meter and 200-meter dash. Wright owns two titles in the 60-meters and one in the 200-meters this season. Newcomer Brittany Machacek looks to continue to improve in the 400-meter dash. The Cypress, Texas native has bettered her time every race this season and came away with the victory at the ISU Open. Kersten Thorgaard (400-meters), Megan Nielsen (60-meter hurdles) and Leia Jackson (60- and 200-meters) are also competing this weekend.

ISU record-breaker James Galvan will be returning to the track for the first time since setting the school record in the men's 800-meter run with a time of 1:48.36 at the ISU Open in late January. Galvan will run in the 800-meters and try to replicate the performance. Sophomores Michael Alexander, David Lantz and freshman Brek Minarik also will race in the event. Erin Penticoff, who won the 1,000-meter run at the ISU Open, will lead the Cyclones on the women's side in the 800-meter run this weekend.

"James leads the country in the 800-meter run going in, and now he will get a chance to go against some of the best in the country," Ihmels said.

Cross country all-Americans Lisa Koll and Grace Kemmey pilot the distance runners, both running in the 5,000-meter run. It will be the debut for both at that distance this season. Koll is provisionally-qualified in the 3,000-meter run, after a first-place time of 9:27.69 at the ISU Open. Kemmey placed fourth in the event at the same meet. Sophomore Kiel Uhl leads the men's distance runners at the ISU Classic, participating in the 5,000-meter run. Uhl won the 3,000-meter run at the ISU open. Distance runners Kevin Born (5,000-meters), Richard Newton (mile) and Brandon Rooney (3,000-meters, mile) also will compete this weekend.

"We have been up and down as a distance unit, battling some things like training in the weather," Ihmels said. "I am looking forward to seeing Brandon Rooney run in the mile and the 3,000-meters. I also think Lisa Koll has a chance to do some special things in the 5,000-meters."

The field events will host some of ISU's strongest competitors. Sioux City native Zac Brouillette holds four victories and three runner-ups in the throws events this season. Brouillette set career bests in both the weight throw (59-08.25) and the shot put (54-10.75). Freshman Tiffanie Synacek will provide a spark for the women in the high jump. Synacek, a two-time Iowa state champion in the high jump, has had a strong rookie season. The Council Bluffs native took first in the event at the Panther Open with a mark of 5-08.00.

Several in-state schools will be competing at the ISU Classic, including Iowa, UNI, Drake, Central and Coe College. Kansas State, Kansas, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Wisconsin and many other schools will also be traveling to Ames for the meet.

The ISU Classic will be the final tune up for the Cyclones before the Big 12 Track and Field Championships in Lincoln, Neb. on Feb. 29-March 1. Events for Thursday's Classic begin at 12:30 p.m. with the 60-meter hurdles portion of the pentathlon. ISU's first event begins on Friday when Amy Waggoner, Amy Thompson, Lillian Sawhill, Whitney Jacobs and Britta Christofferson toss the weight at 1:30 p.m. Results will be live on Cyclones.com.