Golden West Invitational

Sunday, June 12, 2005 @ Folsom HS

The Stars Were Out In Force!
Arkansas-bound talents Ben Schulz (TX), Kenny Cormier (AZ), Scott MacPherson (TX)
and Daniel La Cava (TX) were on hand at GWI to represent the "The Hogs" after the U of A's
men's team captured another NCAA team title the day before! In addition to this great quartet,
Arkansas has also penned distance ace Chris Barnicle (MA) and dash wiz J-Mee Samuels (NC).
At right, fellow 17 footers Spencer McCorkel of Arkansas and Scott Roth of California headlined
the boys vault field, with Roth prevailing in 16-10! McCorkel endured a rough outing to clear 15-00.

Coverage Story
Full Results - Day Meet Only - Night Meet Only
Photo Galleries:  Kirby Lee   Margaret Gallagher  Joe Hartman
Rich Gonzalez Video Highlights!
2005 DyeStatElite Marks (154 of them!)
2005 Preview Story
2005 Full Entries
2005 Heat Sheets
2005 Meet Schedule
Recent Years at the GWI
Meet's Own Website

A Golden Transformation

By Richard Gonzalez
      (Folsom) -- Many of America's brightest prep stars put on quite a show at the 46th Golden West Invitational on Sunday. But not without fans first witnessing some bizarre hiccups along the way.
       Sure, recordsetting pole vaulter Scott Roth soared to the top of the awards podium yet again. But how about the triple jumper who achieved the nation-leading mark for 2005 -- and still lost?
       Yes, Ryan Whiting was highly consistent yet again in powering his way to a pair of victories in the throws. But Whiting beating the national discus leader by a margin of more than 30 feet?
       Indeed, prodiguous distance runner Jordan Hasay was baptized into the rigors of prep racing, but being able to still run as fast as she did while starting out with a seemingly suicidal pace?
       If you were there, you enjoyed another fine edition of the longest-running national postseason clash in the nation. If you weren't there, let's bring you up to speed....
       DISTANCES
       In what was clearly the strength of the meet, the two girls distances races accounted for a staggering 15% of the GWI's 138 DyeStatElite marks, with 14 of those performances coming in the 3200-meter run! In the eight-lap challenge, it was a pair of South Dakotans that battled up front to finish 1-2 in leading a parade of the first 14 finishers representing 8 states. Yankton's Ramsey Kavan continued to win the big postseason meets over two-time state 3200m track champion Allison Eckert of Roosevelt, with Kavan now holding head-on triumphs in both the FootLocker Cross-Country Nationals and now the Golden West Invitational crown. Kavan emerged victorious thanks to a strong second-half surge that opened a 50-meter gap by race's end to win in 10:20.30, with Eckert second in 10:27.13. In rounding out the best 3200m race in the nation this year, six others dipped below 10:40, incliding four FootLocker XC finalists.
        The girls' mile run might have not have the same as the eight-lapper, but it was even better up front! Texan Erin Bedell (Plano East) successfully defended her GWI title against a superb field that included FootLocker XC runner-up Marie Lawrence, California state champion Annie St. Geme, New York star Brittany Sheffey, as well as 8th-grade phenom swimmer-turned-runner Jordan Hasay. From the gun, the still-inexperienced Hasay bolted to the lead, quickly gaining a 10-meter edge on the field by the first backstretch. She kept the pressure on throughout, bringing the lead across in 2:20.1 at the 880-yard mark, although Bedell and St. Geme had regained contact by then.

         Bedell gained the lead for good approaching 1000 meters, with St. Geme and Lawrence battling each other to also overtake Hasay with a lap to go. Bedell's strength went unmatched here, as she was able to hold off a hard-charging Lawrence (4:48.32) to win in 4:44.17, the third-fastest mile time in the nation in 2005. Hasay's 2:20-2:36 positive split lends credibility she'll improve as she settles into more balanced pacing, bringing her strength even more into play. For now, finishing third among Californians was a very promising debut for the 13-year-old standout, who clocked 4:29.70 for 1500 meters in May!  (Check out the race video!)

        The highlight race in the boys distances was the 3200-meter run, where future University of Arkansas teammates Kenny Cormier, Scott MacPherson and Ben Schulz clashed (fellow future " 'Hog" Daniel LaCava took fouth in the 800m, won by New York's Daniel Wallace-Periac ina fine 1:52.99). Colorado's Mohamud Ige arrived here eager to flaunt his reported excellent fitness, doing the work early to send to crew out in 4:28. MacPherson and Cormier soon undertook their personal friendly duel however, with Cormier first earning the late-race pole position, and then offsetting MacPherson's hard closing surge with one of his own to win by three-fifths of a second in 8:59.63. Ige took third in 9:03.54. "I hope he's in better mile shape next weekend (for the Nike Outdoor Nationals in North Carolina) than he was in two-mile shape tonight," quipped Steve Lurie, the personal coach for the home-schooled Cormir, the national cross-country champion hailing from Douglas, AZ. Lurie was hoping for a slightly better time, stating Cormier's workouts are pointing toward excellent marks come race day. It also was Lurie who guaranteed Cormier in January that Cormier would break 3:50 for 1500m (he has since done that) and go low 4's for the mile (he's heading in that direction). "Kenny's still got a surprise up his sleeve, I'd like to think," added Lurie. "We're hoping he reveals it at the Nike meet."
         FIELD EVENTS -- Nkosinza Balumbu had a bittersweet weekend, with the sweetness of victories sandwiched around a slightly bitter statistical development. Balumbu, the James Logan High jumps specialist who has signed with Arkansas, was thrilled at week's end as Arkansas won the NCAA men's team title at nearby Sacramento State. Balumbu, however, lost his status as national leader among legal marks this seasom, with Illinois' Kali Jackson stretching a wind legal 50-09.50 in the early rounds. Balumbu took on his first jump of the competition, spanning a wind-aided (+3.5 mps) 51-05, the eventual winning mark.
         Pennsylvania's Ryan Whiting continued his storybook-type season with a pair ot titles here. The Central Dauphin-HS senior hurled the disc 191-10 to win the event handily, with the big surprise being that national leader Sean Pruitt of Wisconsin finished a very distant sixth. Pruitt had one effort measured at a monstrous 215-02 in non-invitational competition. (Two sources indicated to us that the mark was achieved on a downhill slope, with a third source indicating the final measurement was altered [in thise case, made shorter] as well). Whiting left no doubt in the shot put either, with four 64-foot-plus marks and a winning distance measured at 68-08.50. All the while, his free-spirited mom walked around sporting a top that read: "Shot Happens" across the back.
         Granite Bay junior Scott Roth won the battle of 17-footers in the boys' pole vault competition. Roth had one good attempt at what would have been a lifetime-best 17-04, but still managed to outshine his rival with a winning clearance at 16-10. San Diego-based vaulters Jeff Coover of La Jolla and Scott Finley of Granite Hills went 2-3, with each clearing a life-time best 16-06. Coover, the California state runner-up bound for Indiana in the Fall, has been on the heels of Roth of late, drawing closer with each outing. Arkansas' Spencer McCorkel, who owns a lifetime-best 17-00 clearance, finished out of the medals with a mark of 15-00; it was at his state meet that McCorkel's hand was slashed open by a shattered pole, requiring 14 stitches to repair. Roth, McCorkel and Georgia's Jordan Scott -- the nation's three 17-footers -- will meet at North Carolina's A&T's world-class vault venue this comnig weekend at NON.
          The girls' vault had a bit of drama as state champion Brysun Stately of Cordova HS in Northern California was pushed to the limit by Southern California junior-class talent Tori Pena of Edison (Huntington Beach). Both vaulters cleared 13-02 (a lifetime best for Pena), with the former winning on fewer misses. A pair of prep throws phenoms received firm challenges in their specialty events, with javelin national record holder Rachel Yurkovich spearing the implement to a winning measurement of 154-00. Montana sophomore Marissa Tschida was next at 148-07. In the hammer throw, Idaho's Sarah Cardinal won with a toss of 152-04, just ahead of Southern California frosh Arianna Lugo (151-10).
         SPRINTS -- Georgia's Justin Oliver came here seeking a showdown with natinoal leader and three-time California state champion David Gettis of Los Angeles Dorsey, but Gettis has called it a season and will ready for football at Baylor University. Oliver rolled to a very fine 46.97 win in the one-lap challenge to win by more than a second, but was threatened all the way to finish in the deuce before outleaning Colorado's Jeremy Dodson, 21.13 to 21.18. Mt. Eden sophomore Cherrelle Garrett pulled off a surprise of sorts to win the 100 in a wind-aided 11.44, the fastest time in the state under any conditions. Her previous best mark was an 11.90 under wind-legal conditions.
          The meet venue was an excellent one, with ample seating to view action on the newly-constructed 10-lane all-weather track. Periodic winds played a role in some events at times, resulting in wind-aided clockings on the track and wind-affected marks in the field events. Hopefully, after watching this meet change venues on a frequent basis in recent years, the GWI has found a new home. The meet reportedly moved here in 2005 because not enough host hotels remained at or near the previous meet location as the NCAA Track and Field Championships and a very large realtors' convention were both being hosted in Sacramento.



 
Granite Hills' Derek Scott scaled to a new PR of 16-06 to place third (based on misses) to fellow
San Diego star Jeff Coover of La Jolla in the boys' pole vault! The duo are tied as the #2
vaulters in San Diego Section history! At right, Texas distance sensation Erin Bedell took control
of the girls' race halfway through, on her way to a big victory in 4:44.17 in a very loaded field!

 
Pennsylvania's Ryan Whiting handled the throws field in impressive fashion, with his winning shot put
heave of 68-08.50 winning by over six feet and his discus toss of 191-10 winning by over 13 feet!
At right, California HS star David Klech rallied from a late deficit in the intermediate hurdles to
complete a sweep of the barrier races. Klech won the highs in a wind-aided 13.90 and the IH in 36.63!

Caught on Video!
Highlights below are coming from the 2005 GWI!

70-foot shot putter Ryan Whiting shows how it's done!
La Jolla vaulter Jeff Coover nails a PR of 16-06!
David Klech wins 110m High Hurdles
National leader Stephanie Horton in SP ring
CA State Leader Julie Dufresne in the shot put
Aaron Dan - Latest Esperanza HS throws talent
Bobby Scott of Clovis West in Shot Put Ring
David Klech rallies to win 300m IH - coming!
New Jersey's Cantey goes 41.19 in Girls 300m LH - coming!
Erin Bedell wins girls mile; swift start by Hasay! - coming
Live Oak's Christine Jones wins girls 800m - coming!

DyeStatElite Marks (no trials marks included)
GIRLS 100 METERS (4)
1 Cherrelle Garrett 10 CA 11.44 2.1
2 Patrice Potts 12 VA 11.69 2.1
3 Janessa Murphy 12 PA 11.76 2.1
4 Leandra Privott 12 CT 11.92 2.1


GIRLS 200 METERS (3)
1 Romesha Anderson 10 CA 24.26 1.2
2 Patrice Potts 12 VA 24.34 1.2
3 DeAngela McDougald 10 KS 24.37 1.2
2 Magen Del Pino 9 CA 24.30 2.2


GIRLS 400 METERS (2)
1 Tiffany Grant 11 NJ 55.33
2 Shewanda Woodard TX 55.99

GIRLS 800 METERS (3)
1 Christine Jones 11 CA 2:10.54
2 Danielle Bradley 11 FL 2:10.79
3 Dominique Jackson CA 2:12.19

GIRLS MILE (7)
1 Erin Bedell 12 TX 4:44.17
2 Marie Lawrence 10 NV 4:48.32
3 Annie St. Geme 11 CA 4:51.00
4 Anna Farias-Eisner 12 CA 4:56.08
5 Jordan Hasay 8 DC 4:56.38
6 Brittany Sheffey 10 NY 5:00.69
7 Danielle Dominechelli 12 CA 5:01.40

GIRLS 3200 METERS (14)
1 Ramsey Kavan 12 SD 10:20.30
2 Allison Eckert 10 SD 10:27.13
3 Keara Sammons 11 CO 10:27.91
4 Amanda Patterson 12 VA 10:29.74
5 Merideth Snow 11 MO 10:30.17
6 Whitney Anderson 12 CO 10:30.38
7 Whitney Blue 11 CA 10:36.03
8 Katie Radzik 12 NY 10:39.02
9 Amanda Moreno 11 CA 10:41.46
10 Natasha LaBeaud 12 CA 10:41.71
11 Christy Adamyk 10 CA 10:44.32
12 Alex Kosinksi 10 CA 10:44.45
13 Jessica Pixler 11 WA 10:54.57
14 Samantha Gaffney 11 UT 10:55.80

GIRLS 100M HIGH HURDLES (2)
1 Trier Young 12 NJ 13.91 2.0
2 Landria Buckley 11 MI 14.42 2.0

GIRLS 300M LOW HURDLES (2)
1 Krystal Cantey 11 NJ 41.19
2 Jennifer Sabra 12 MI 43.78

GIRLS HIGH JUMP (2)
1 Amber Kaufman CA 5-07.00 1.70m
2 Epley Bullock 11 TX J5-07.00 1.70m

GIRLS POLE VAULT (12)
1 Brysun Stately 12 CA 13-02.00 4.01m
2 Tori Pena 11 CA J13-02.00 4.01m
3 Britany Parker 11 TX 12-08.00 3.86m
4 Kate Mattoon 12 CA J12-08.00 3.86m
5 Natasha Barthel CA 11-06.00 3.50m
5 Caitlin Hewitt 11 PA 11-06.00 3.50m
1 Stephanie Bagan CA 12-01.00 3.68m
1 Whitney Cothren 11 AR 12-01.00 3.68m
3 Stephanie Foreman 9 AR 11-08.00 3.55m
3 Staci Yawn 9 AR 11-08.00 3.55m
3 Alexandra Fernandez 11 CA 11-08.00 3.55m
3 Erin Cluiss 12 TX 11-08.00 3.55m


GIRLS LONG JUMP (3)
1 Christina Tupper Una 19-04.75 -1.5 5.91m
2 Janessa Murphy 12 PA 19-00.00 -0.8 5.79m
3 Shana Watson Una 18-08.50 +0.0 5.70m

GIRLS TRIPLE JUMP (11)
1 Decontee Kaye 12 Una 42-03.50 3.1 12.89m
2 Christina Tupper 12 WA 41-02.75 3.4 12.56m
3 Jenny Glover 12 TX 39-07.00 3.8 12.06m
4 LaToya Collins 11 LA 39-06.75 3.3 12.05m
5 Asia Wright 11 LA 39-01.00 2.5 11.91m
6 Uzunma Udeh 9 LA 39-00.50 3.4 11.89m
7 Estefany Cruz 10 CA 38-09.00 3.7 11.81m
8 Tisha Uwadiale 11 CA 38-08.50 3.3 11.79m
1 Dess Meek 11 TX 39-03.50 2.4 11.97m
2 Tracy Lewis 12 LA 38-11.00 2.1 11.86m
3 Taylor Nichols 10 CA 38-00.50 4.3 11.59m


GIRLS SHOT PUT (5)
1 Stephanie Horton 12 OR 50-00.00 15.24m
   50-00 43-07.50 49-10.50 49-00 44-07 48-11
2 Whitney Hooks 11 WA 49-02.00 14.98m
   46-09.50 46-02.50 49-02 44-04 45-01 48-00.50
3 Julie Dufresne 12 CA 46-07.50 14.21m
   46-01.50 46-07.50 44-04 46-02 46-03.50 44-00.50
4 Wallerstedt Michaela NE 45-10.00 13.97m
   41-11 43-07 43-09 45-05 45-00 45-10
5 Sarah Cardinal 11 CA 43-00.00 13.10m
   41-00 40-01 40-01.50 41-04.50 43-00 42-06

GIRLS DISCUS (6)
1 Alexaraee Toeaina CA 149-00 45.41m
2 Christina Mueller 12 TX 145-05 44.32m
3 Margaret Giuffre CA 144-11 44.17m
4 Jaclyn Espinoza 11 OR 143-09 43.81m
5 Leanne Taylor Una 142-06 43.43m
6 Sarah Cardinal 11 CA 140-09 42.90m

GIRLS JAVELIN (5)
1 Rachel Yurkovich 12 OR 154-00 46.93m
2 Marissa Tschida 10 MT 148-07 45.28m
3 Christina Grizzel 10 OR 140-03 42.74m
4 Jeeni Schantin OR 137-00 41.75m
5 Anna Lyons 12 LA 136-00 41.45m

BOYS 100 METERS (2)
1 Torric Davis 12 SC 10.55 2.3
2 Josh Heilman 12 NV 10.60 2.3

BOYS 200 METERS (4)
1 Justin Oliver 12 GA 21.13 1.1
2 Jeremy Dodson 12 CO 21.18 1.1
3 Torric Davis 12 SC 21.40 1.1
4 Gerron Herring 12 MO 21.53 1.1

BOYS 400 METERS (1)
1 Justin Oliver 12 GA 46.97

BOYS 800 METERS (4)
1 Danny Wallace-Periac 12 NY 1:52.99
2 Blake Figgins 12 MI 1:53.62
3 Bob Hewitt-Gaffney 12 WY 1:53.76
4 Daniel LaCava 12 TX 1:53.92

BOYS MILE (1)
1 Zuber Ahmed 12 OR 4:17.09

BOYS 3200 METERS (6)
1 Kenneth Cormier 12 AZ 8:59.63
2 Scott MacPherson 12 TX 9:00.23
3 Mohamud Ige 11 CO 9:03.54
4 Matthew Tebo 10 NM 9:04.93
5 Josh Adams UT 9:10.86
6 Samuel Ahlbeck 12 WA 9:12.47

BOYS 110 METER HIGH HURDLES (5)
1 David Klech 11 CA 13.90 3.4
2 Val-Pierre Dai'Re 12 CA 13.98 3.4
3 Casey Canada 12 AP 14.04 3.4
4 Polly Gnepa 12 CA 14.07 3.4
5 Nkosinza Balumbu 12 Una 14.20 3.4

BOYS 300 METER INTERMEDIATE HURDLES (3)
1 David Klech 11 CA 36.63
2 Jake Hanson WA 36.64
3 Brent LaRue 12 NC 38.12

BOYS HIGH JUMP (2)
1 Aiona Key Una 6-11.00 2.10m
2 Juan Cave-II NJ 6-09.00 2.05m

BOYS POLE VAULT (14)
1 Scott Roth 11 CA 16-10.00 5.13m
2 Jeff Coover CA 16-06.00 5.02m
3 Scott Finley 12 CA J16-06.00 5.02m
4 Jeremy Willis 12 AR 16-01.00 4.90m
5 Ryan Shuler 11 CA J16-01.00 4.90m
6 Alexander Bentley TX 15-07.00 4.74m
7 Gregory Woepse 11 CA J15-07.00 4.74m
8 Brian Duggan NY J15-07.00 4.74m
9 Spencer McCorkel 10 AR 15-00.00 4.57m
10 Dutch Perryman AZ J15-00.00 4.57m
1 Johnny Quinn 11 CA 15-07.00 4.74m
2 Ben Cogdill 11 OR J15-07.00 4.74m
3 Ben Peterson 11 WY 15-01.00 4.59m
3 Charlie Nichols 11 CA 15-01.00 4.59m


BOYS LONG JUMP (1)
1 Jeremy Hicks TX 23-05.00 -1.2 7.13m

BOYS TRIPLE JUMP (12)
1 Nkosinza Balumbu 12 Una 51-05.00 3.4 15.67m
2 Kali Jackson Una 50-09.50 1.6 15.48m
3 Anthony Flemons 11 TX 49-07.25 3.0 15.11m
4 Zuheir Sharif 11 CA 49-03.00 1.8 15.01m
5 Malcolm Williams 11 TX 48-07.00 3.1 14.80m
6 Eric Quick CA 48-05.00 2.3 14.75m
7 Elliot O'Hare 12 TX 48-03.50 +0.0 14.71m
8 Bilal Hameed 12 IL 48-00.00 4.2 14.63m
9 Donald Dismuke 11 Una 47-11.00 1.7 14.60m
10 Raymond Blackledge 13 CO 47-05.00 3.0 14.45m
1 Donovan Loring 11 AR 48-01.50 4.3 14.66m
2 Steven Taylor 11 CA 47-10.50 4.6 14.59m


BOYS SHOT PUT (7)
1 Ryan Whiting 12 PA 68-08.50 20.94m
62-10.25 68-08.50 65-01.50 66-00.50 FOUL 64-08.75
2 Colon-Trey Jordan-III TX 62-07.50 19.08m
60-06.50 61-04.50 61-08 60-04.25 60-09.75 62-07.50
3 John Hickey 12 NY 61-09.00 18.82m
61-06.25 FOUL FOUL 59-02 61-09 FOUL
4 Aaron Dan 12 CA 60-11.75 18.58m
57-05 60-11.75 60-08.50 57-08.50 58-03.75 FOUL
5 Bobby Scott CA 59-02.00 18.03m
55-00 57-05.25 57-08.25 57-11 57-08 59-02
6 Joshua Kary 12 ND 57-05.75 17.51m
55-01 56-10.50 55-05 FOUL 55-01.25 57-05.75
7 Billy Hardcastle 11 SD 57-01.75 17.41m
54-10.75 FOUL 57-01.75 53-00.50 52-07.75 FOUL

BOYS DISCUS (5)
1 Ryan Whiting 12 PA 191-10 58.47m
2 Korion Morris WA 178-05 54.38m
3 Larry Jones 11 LA 174-04 53.13m
4 Eric Thomas 11 KS 173-10 52.98m
5 Aaron Dan 12 CA 170-06 51.96m

BOYS JAVELIN (5)
1 Chris Reno MT 200-06 61.11m
2 Anthony Fairbanks 12 NM 198-00 60.35m
3 Josh Hostetler 11 PA 197-09 60.27m
4 Nathan Bache 11 MT 194-00 59.13m
5 Preston Chatham 11 LA 192-07 58.69m

Leading athletes from 33 states
meet at 46th Golden West Inv'l!
   
National leaders Ryan Whiting (SP), Scott Roth (PV) and Rachel Yurkovich (JT) join junior-high
phenom Jordan Hasay (mile) are among the headliners gathering for the Golden West Invitational!

Justin Oliver (400m), Erin Bedell (mile), David Klech (hurdles), Bryson Stately (pole vault)
and Ken Cormier (3200 meters) are a mix of veteran and newcomer natioal stars at GWI!

By Rich Gonzalez, DyeStatCal
         They come from near and far, each arriving to participate in the granddaddy of national postseason track and field showcases. For nearly half a century, the greatest names in our sport have made the mid-June trip to Northern California, a growing list of eventual Olympic and world-class superstars.... Evelyn Ashford and Mike Powell. Marion Jones and Steve Lewis. Dawn Bowles and Steve Prefontaine.
         With the ushering in of a new era of Olympians, the Golden West has kept in stride, rolling out the red carpet for the latest heroes... Allyson Felix and Jeremy Wariner. Monique Henderson and Meb Keflezighi. Stacy Dragila and Joanna Hayes.
         In 2005, 46 years since its baptism, the Golden West once again attracts leading names.
Read the full 2005 meet preview here...

2004 Golden West Invitational

Chock One Up To Tenacity!
California distance wiz Caitlin Chock blazes to 9:58.51 for 3200! - Meet Results!  Photo Album

2003 Golden West Invitational

National Records on the Vault Runway!
Kira Costa (CA) and Tommy Skipper (OR) rise higher than ever! - Meet Results!

2002 Golden West Invitational

Dash phenoms the likes of Brendan Christian, Kelly Willie, and Jeremy Wariner
plus distance standout Megan Kaltenbach starred here! - Meet results!