2010 Track Season Starts Saturday at UCSB
2/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Track
MALIBU, Calif. - Pepperdine men's and women's track and field teams begin their 2010 season Saturday at UC Santa Barbara for the annual Gaucho Roundup where the Waves will face the host school in addition to Claremont and Westmont.
Fourth-year head coach Robert Radnoti is bringing to Pauley Track 19 of his best student-athletes, a group that features junior sprinters Amanda Ajdari (Valencia, Calif./Hart HS), Brittany Clark (Laguna Beach, Calif./Laguna Beach HS) and Bridgette Walker (Oak Harbor, Wash./Oak Harbor HS), as well as distance specialists Chelsea Wishard (Lawai, Hawai'i/Kauai HS), Wesley Blundell (Brush Prairie, Wash./Prairie HS) and Kenny Smith (Willits, Calif./Willits HS).
Ajdari, Clark and Walker were dominant for Pepperdine within the sprint events last season and together broke two individual school records, a pair of Stotsenberg Track marks, and four varsity relay records from the 4x100m through the 800m sprint medley.
Ajdari enters 2010 as the school's record holder in the 100m and 200m with times of 12.47 and 25.56, but could add the 800m record to her resume since Radnoti is planning on shifting her speed and efforts to this race.
Clark and Walker will remain the Waves' stalwart veterans in the sprints and relays. Clark set Pepperdine's facility record in the 100m last season with her time of 12.71, while Walker established a new school record in the 400m at 58.03.
Although the Waves are missing six sophomores on their roster due to their participation in Pepperdine's international programs, they are bringing back Wishard, who missed all of 2009 with nagging injuries before returning to cross country this past fall at full strength.
Wishard's junior cross country campaign was capped by her third-place finish at the West Coast Conference Championships. She completed the 6K course at Crystal Springs in 21:14 - a :53 second improvement from 2008 - and led Pepperdine to the finish line at five consecutive regular season invitationals, which included a win at Cal State Bakersfield.
Wishard set the varsity record in the 800m (2:19.70) the last time she ran track in 2008 at the University of California Invitational, and could easily break more distance records since sophomore Lauren Lodge (Hopkinton, Mass./Hopkinton HS) is among those studying overseas.
"Lauren recorded some very good marks last season and I know Chelsea is looking forward to breaking those records," Radnoti said. "Chelsea had a terrific cross country season and is definitely one of this team's highlight performers."
On the men's side, Radnoti has seen a lot of progress in Blundell, a freshman, and Smith, who is in his sophomore year. Both youngsters will be competing in Saturday's 3000m race even though their focus is on two of the more challenging late-season events.
"Wes is focused on the 10K and we're looking to develop Kenny into our premier steeplechase runner, but these events usually don't appear on the track schedule until later in the season" Radnoti said. "So for now we'll just continue to work on their speed."
Smith was Pepperdine's No. 1 runner at the WCC Championships and NCAA West Regional Championships, recording times of 26:28 (8K) and 33:29.19 (10K). He also led the Waves to the finish line at the UC Irvine/Asics Invitational and was their No. 2 runner at three other invitationals.
Smith clocked Pepperdine's top 3000m steeplechase time of 9:45.37 last season as a freshman.
In his first cross country season at Pepperdine, Blundell competed at seven events and finished as Pepperdine's No. 3 runner at both postseason meets.
Driving Directions to UCSB's Pauley Track
Traveling north on Highway 101:
Take the Airport/UCSB exit (Highway 217) off U.S. 101 approximately eight miles north of Santa Barbara to the campus East Gate.
Turn right onto Mesa Road and get into the left hand lane.
Turn left at the stop sign onto Stadium Road.
After you pass the soccer stadium on your right, parking lot 30 will be on your left.
Parking will cost $8 for a day ticket.
To reach the track:
After you park continue to walk down stadium road to the stop light.
At the light turn left onto El Colegio, the track will be on your left.
Meet Schedule
Running Events
12:00 W 4 x 100 Relay
12:05 M 4 x 100 Relay
12:10 W 1500 Meters
12:20 M 1500 Meters
12:30 W 100 Meter Hurdles
12:40 M 110 Meter Hurdles
12:50 W 400 Meters
12:55 M 400 Meters
1:00 W 100 Meters
1:05 M 100 Meters
1:10 W 800 Meters
1:15 M 800 Meters
1:25 W 400 Intermediate Hurdles
1:35 M 400 Intermediate Hurdles
1:45 W 200 Meters
1:50 M 200 Meters
1:55 W 3000 Meters
2:10 M 3000 Meters
2:25 W 4 x 400 Relay (3 turn stagger)
2:35 M 4 x 400 Relay (3 turn stagger)
Field Events
11:00 M Long Jump
11:00 M Javelin
11:30 W High Jump
11:30 W Pole Vault (followed by M)
11:30 W Shot Put
12:00 W Javelin
12:15 W Long Jump
12:30 M Shot Put
12:30 M High Jump
1:00 W Discus
1:00 M Triple Jump
2:00 M Discus
2:00 W Triple Jump
3:00 W Hammer (followed by M)
*This time schedule may be adjusted if the number of entries causes multiple heats/flights
Scoring
Two student-athletes from each team will score in each of the 20 running events and 14 field events. The points for individual events will be 7,5,4,3,2,1 while points earned for relays will be 7,5,4.
