Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Utah/Weber State Spring Classic
Reece smashes Wildcats' 100, 200 meter records
4/9/2017 1:33:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
SALT LAKE CITY/OGDEN – On a cold, wet, and windy weekend in Northern Utah, one Wildcat ran away with the spotlight.
Senior sprinter Alex Reece turned in a pair of top-flight performances in the 100 and 200 meters, shattering the school record in both events at the Utah/Weber State Spring Classic on Friday and Saturday.
"I specifically tried to focus on executing each phase of my races properly and not letting the conditions of the weather affect my performance," Reece said. "Getting into the blocks before each race, I would tell myself, 'we do this every day at practice, there's no reason today should be any different.'"
In Friday's action at Utah, Reece ran a 10.21 in the 100 meters, smashing Wiley King's school record of 10.35 set in 2004. Not content with just one record, Reece ran a 20.79 in the 200 meters at Chick Hislop Track, besting Chanson Memmott's record of 20.86 set in 1998.
"As a transfer from Baylor, he took a chance coming to Weber State and training like we do in a cold weather area," Weber State Director of Track and Field Dan Walker said. "Coach (Tiffany) Hogan has done a wonderful job working with him. I took a chance on him, and it seems to be working out."
"A whole bunch of kids who are not our top-level performers continue to improve, getting into the conversation about scoring at the conference championships."
Both of Reece's times are the fastest in the Big Sky Conference this season, with his 100-meter time sitting at seventh in NCAA Western Qualifying, and his 200-meter time sitting 13th in the West Region.
Senior distance runner Ellie Child ran a 4:33.57 in the 1,500 meters on Saturday, the second-fastest time in the Big Sky this year.
Jamie Stokes, running her first collegiate race since June of 2016, ran 2:12.54 in the 800 meters, a top six time in the Big Sky.
Senior thrower Natasha Powell hit 47 feet, 1 3/4 inches in the shot put to win the event on Friday, and 167 feet, five inches in the hammer throw for a top three finish. Terrell Womack won the discus with a throw of 137 feet, three inches.
Joey Czellecz won the 400-meter hurdles on Saturday with a time of 53.21, and ran a 14.48 in the 110-meter hurdles on Friday.
Dallin Leatham and Tracen Warnick finished 2-3 in the 1,500 meters, running 3:55.45 and 3:56.12, respectively. Walker credited both with the strong showing as freshman and being at altitude.
In the men's throws, Nathan Dunivan throw 170 feet, 10 inches in the discus (2nd), 173-feet, 10 inches in the hammer throw (3rd), and 50 feet, four inches in the shot put (4th) for a strong all-around weekend. Fellow thrower Justin Herbert finished second in the hammer with a throw of 177 feet, nine inches.
Weber State will return to action next weekend, with the majority of the team heading to Logan, Utah, for the Mark Faldmo Invitational, and several athletes heading to the Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, Calif.
Players Mentioned
