Morrison Leads Heptathlon at MPSF Championships

Freshman Chioma Amaechi Takes Second in Women's Weight Throw

Chioma Amaechi

Feb. 25, 2011


SEATTLE, Wash. - Freshman Chioma Amaechi took runner-up honors in the women's weight throw, while Mike Morrison leads after the first four events of the heptathlon to pace California's efforts on the opening day of competition at the MSPF Indoor Track & Field Championships.

Amaechi and Linda Oseso gave the Bears their first points of the meet by finishing 2-3, respectively, in the weight throw, both in PR efforts. Amaechi's 59-4.25 was more than two feet further than her previous best and came on her second throw of the competition. Oseso improved by more than a foot with a throw of 59-1.50 on her final attempt.

Morrison owns a 114-point lead in the heptathlon with 3,157 points to Oregon's Dakotah Keys' 3,043. The Cal senior, the defending conference champion, won two of the four events Friday. He posted the fastest time in the field in the 60 meters, covering the distance in 7.04 seconds, a season best and just 0.01 shy of his PR. Teammates Idarre Coles (7.27) and Kevin Kuechler (7.36) also ran career bests.

Morrison had the top mark in the long jump , as well, with an effort of 23-7.50. Both Kuechler (22-8.50) and Coles (22-0.25) added PR leaps, too.

Morrison was third in the shot put at 41-3.75 and tied for second with Coles in the high jump with a PR 6-6.00, an inch-and-a-quarter over his previous lifetime best.

Overall, Kuechler stands in seventh place in the heptathlon with 2,787 points, and Coles is eighth with 2,777.

Junior Ray Stewart qualified for Saturday finals in two events. He had the fastest qualifying time in the 60-meter hurdles at 7.95 seconds, while he was fifth in the 60-meter sprint in a season-best 6.93. Joining Stewart in the hurdles final will be fellow Bears Aaron Burney (8.21) and Monte Corley (8.25).





Freshman Chase Wheeler took fourth in the long jump with a PR mark of 23-10.75 despite fouling on five of his six attempts. Hammed Suleman added more points for Cal with a tie for sixth at 23-8.25.

In the sprints, Cherrelle Garrett established a pair of season bests. She qualified for Saturday's final in the 60 meters with the No. 3 time of the day in 7.51 seconds, while she placed eighth in the 200 in 24.42. In addition, Emani Truluck qualified for Saturday's final in the 60 hurdles in 8.55 seconds.

Both the men's and women's distance medley relays finished fifth - the men in 9:38.69 and the women in 11:23.91.

Through six events, the Cal men stand in eighth place with 15 points and the women are fifth with 19. Stanford leads the men's competition, with Arizona State atop the women's field. The MPSF meet resumes at 11 a.m. Saturday and continues through the final event at 3 p.m.

MPSF Indoor Championships
Seattle, Wash.


Complete Results


Men's Results
Team Standings (through 6 events) - 1. Stanford 40.50; 2. UCLA 37.50; 3. Oregon 36; 4. Arizona 31; 5. Arizona State 26.50; 6. Washington 19; 7. Washington State 16; 8. California 15; 9. Long Beach State 11; 10. Cal State Northridge 1.50

60 meters (prelims) - 5. Ray Stewart 6.93q; 14. Nick Porter 7.00

5000 meters - 10. Maxime Chevee 14:05.45; 15. Cody Schmidt 14:21.18; 20. Matt Miller 14:24.14; 26. Simon Schmidt 14:36.64; 27. J.P. Slater 15:01.07

60-meter hurdles (prelims) - 1. Ray Stewart 7.95q; 6. Aaron Burney 8.21q; 7. Monte Corley 8.25q

Distance Medley Relay - 5. Collin Jarvis, Monte Corley, Jordan Locklear, Steve Sodaro 9:38.69

Pole Vault - 5. Connor Landry 16-3.50 (4.97m)

Long Jump - 4. Chase Wheeler 23-10.75 (7.27m); 6. Hammed Suleman 23-8.25 (7.22m); 9. Chad Jones 22-11.25 (6.99m); 10. Taylor Kientzel-Means 22-10.50 (6.97m)

Heptathlon (points in parentheses)
60 meters - 1. Mike Morrison 7.04 (868); 8. Idarre Coles 7.27 (789); 13. Kevin Kuechler 7.36 (759)

Long Jump - 1. Mike Morrison 23-7.50 (7.20m) (862); 4. Kevin Kuechler 22-8.50 (6.92m) (795); 8. Idarre Coles 22-0.25 (6.71m) (746)

Shot Put - 3. Mike Morrison 41-3.75 (12.59m) (642); 7. Kevin Kuechler 39-4.00 (11.99m) (606); 17. Idarre Coles 31-3.25 (9.53m) (457)

High Jump - 2. Mike Morrison 6-6.00 (1.98m) (785); 2. Idarre Coles 6-6.00 (1.98m) (785); 16. Kevin Kuechler 5-10.75 (1.80m) (627)

Day 1 Standings - 1. Mike Morrison 3157; 7. Kevin Kuechler 2787; 8. Idarre Coles 2777

Women's Results
Team Standings (through 6 events) - 1. Arizona State 54; 2. Stanford 35; 3. Oregon 32; 4. Arizona 28; 5. California 19; 6. UCLA 17; 6. Washington 17; 8. Cal State Northridge 16; 9. Washington State 13; 10. Long Beach State 2.

60 meters (prelims) - 3. Cherrelle Garrett 7.51q; 11. Charnell Price 7.63

200 meters - 8. Cherrelle Garrett 24.42; 14. Charnell Price 24.83; 15. Kayla Dixon 24.86

60-meter hurdles (prelims) - 8. Emani Truluck 8.55q

Distance Medley Relay - 5. Taylor Dutch, Angelica Weaver, Rowena Tam, Chelsea Reilly 11:23.91

Long Jump - Aziza Baker NM

Weight Throw - 2. Chioma Amaechi 59-4.24 (18.09m); 3. Linda Oseso 59-1.50 (18.02m); 9. Kiely Smith 55-5.50 (1.90m)

q - qualified for final