Golden Bears Travel to Seattle for UW Indoor Meet

Golden Bears Travel to Seattle for UW Indoor Meet
Cal Makes First of Three Trips to Washington This Season



Jan. 26, 2010

THIS WEEK IN CAL TRACK & FIELD: After opening its 2010 indoor season at the Cherry & Silver Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M., California makes the first of three straight trips to Seattle, starting with this weekend's UW Indoor Invitational Friday and Saturday.

The Golden Bears will return to the Dempsey Indoor facility on the University of Washington campus for the Husky Indoor Classic Feb. 12-13 and the MSPF championships Feb. 26-27.

This week's meet is a two-day affair and will include multi-event competitions in the heptathlon and pentathlon. Michael Morrison and Kyle Mills-Bunje both warmed up for the UW meet by participating in four events each last weekend and will get underway Friday afternoon, along with competitors in the pole vault, 4x800-meter relay, 5000 meters and distance medley relay. All other events will take place Saturday, starting at 10 a.m.

REVIEWING THE OPENER: Cal started the 2010 season with a good showing at the Cherry & Silver Invitational hosted by the University of New Mexico last Saturday. The Golden Bears posted seven top-three finishes, including a victory by Kimyon Broom in the 60-meter hurdles (8.30). Cal runners concentrated on the shorter distances, as no Bear raced longer than 800 meters individually. Broom, as well as pole vaulters Allison Stokke (13-1.50) and Ryan Shuler (17-0.75), posted NCAA provisional qualifying marks.

VROOM BROOM: Senior Kimyon Broom broke out of the blocks quickly in her first meet of the 2010 campaign, setting a Cal indoor record in the 60-meter hurdles at the Cherry & Silver Invitational. Broom's time of 8.30 seconds was well ahead of runner-up Seun Adigu (unattached), who finished in 8.42 seconds. The two-time defending Pac-10 champion in the 100 hurdles outdoors, Broom broke the school mark of 8.31 seconds established by Osarhiemen Omwanghe in 2006.

2009 INDOOR SEASON IN REVIEW: Cal completed one of its most successful indoor seasons in 2009. The Golden Bear men tied for second at the MPSF championships and placed 12th at the NCAA meet. The Cal women were sixth at MPSFs and tied for 41st at the national championships. Overall, the Bears set 10 school records in '09 - five each by the men and women. Kellan Patterson returns as the defending conference champ in the 60 meters (6.77), while Michael Coe captured the 2009 MPSF title in the mile (4:00.29). On the women's side, Cherrelle Garrett will be seeking the league crown in the 60m (7.38) and 200m (24.03) after finishing as the runner-up in both events last season.

CAL MEN RANKED 22ND: Cal's men's indoor track & field team is ranked 22nd nationally in this week's coaches association poll after claiming a No. 20 preseason standing. A total of seven MPSF men's teams are rated this week.

3 TOP 3 FINISHES FOR BEARS AT '09 NCAA MEET: On the strength of three top 3 finishes at last year's NCAA championships, the Cal men placed 12th at the national indoor meet. Michael Coe was second in the 3000 meters in a time of 7:54.42, while Ed Wright tied for third in the high jump with a leap of 7-0.25. The distance medley relay of Mark Matusak, Jake Hanson, Sebastian Sam and Coe was also third, crossing the line in 9:30.39. Although both Wright and Hanson have graduated, the bulk of Cal's NCAA scorers return for 2010.

PAC-10 CHAMPIONSHIPS AT CAL: California will host the 2010 Pac-10 Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Edwards Stadium/Goldman Field this spring. The decathlon and heptathlon will take place May 8-9, with the remaining events being contested May 15-16. Cal last played host to the meet in 2001. Check CalBears.com for more details, including event times and ticket information as the event gets closer.

Courtesy Cal