Feb. 7, 2013

Tweet

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Just two weeks removed from an outstanding kickoff to its 2013 season at Dempsey Indoor, the Oregon State track and field program will return to the same venue for the Husky Classic in Seattle this Saturday when six student-athletes compete in four different events.

In keeping with the consistent evolution and development of the program, the Beavers will have competitors in both the 60m hurdles and the shot put for the first time since OSU track and field was brought back in 2004.

"We were always excited about what we were doing, but to go up there and have athletes competing throughout the meet in a variety of events, that's what the sport of track and field is about," assistant coach Travis Floeck said.

Freshman Michele Turney and sophomore transfer Kaitlyn Mason will run the 60m hurdles beginning with the prelims at 9:25 a.m. The final in that event is at 11:10 a.m. Four-year softball standout Mary Claire Brenner, who missed Oregon State's season-opening meet due to an illness, will throw the shot at noon.

No female OSU student-athletes have run the hurdles at any distance or thrown the shot put since the Pac-10 Conference Championships in May 1988 at Drake Stadium on the campus of UCLA. In that meet, the Beavers' Jennifer Stark ran both the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles, Kelly Alfieri also ran the 400-meter hurdles and Beth Nygren threw the shot.

In addition the hurdles, both Turney and Mason will also compete in the long jump at 10 a.m. as the duo prepares for the possibility of competing in the heptathlon during the outdoor season. The Beaver high-jumping trio of Sara Almen, Justine Bird and Kristin Oenning will also begin their event at 10 a.m. Those three had a good start at the UW Invite on Jan. 26, led by Almen's third-place finish after a leap of 5' 7¾".

"Obviously, [improving marks] is always the goal going in," Floeck said. "It's good that they've got that first meet underneath them and they did such a great job in their preparation and the way they conducted themselves at the meet. It's a matter of keeping it in perspective that we are really shooting for the outdoor season. It's another opportunity to go out and get some experience."

Lastly, former Oregon State all-American and current volunteer assistant coach Laura Carlyle will participate in her first post-collegiate meet when she runs the 3,000 meters at 4:35 p.m.

The Husky Classic will be streamed live through UW's Pac-12 portal.

Support Oregon State University Athletics by making your tax deductible donation to Our Beaver Nation. For more information follow this link or call 541-737-2370. Former Student-Athletes are invited to join the Varsity O Facebook Page for upcoming Alumni events.

Follow Oregon State Athletics On YouTube.