Athletes Compete at Oxy Invitational
Yvette Lewis (middle) earned a new PR in the 100mH on Saturday. (Photo: Tracy Maple)
Los Angeles, Calif ( May 10, 2008) – For many Occidental College student-athletes today was one final chance. In some cases it was the final collegiate competition, for others, the season finale. Hundreds of athletes from across the world gathered today on the Bill Henry Track to compete at the 2008 Oxy Invitational.
As a last opportunity to qualify to many NCAA and NAIA Championships, colleges and universities from across California as well numerous professional athletes used the day to compete against pre-determined standards with the hopes of advancing to the next meet. Occidental played host to many SCIAC schools as well as the likes of USC, UCLA, UCSD, UCSB, CSU, Fullerton, CSU, San Marcos, Azusa Pacific, Fresno Pacific, Westmont and Cal Poly.
Appearing on the track and in the field were a handful of world class athletes including Bryan Clay, Yvette Lewis, Natasha Danvers, Marestella Torres and Kelsie Hendry.
Clay, the current 2008 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Indoor Gold Medalist and 2005 Decathlon World Champion, 2004 Olympic silver medalist and 2004 World Indoor Gold Medalist, competed in the discus (52.37m) and 200m (21.39) events today for Team Nike.
Also representing Team Nike was Lewis, the current US triple-jump champion who leapt 14.43m. Additionally, she won the 100mH, setting a new personal record (13.02). A member of the British team, Danvers has been ranked among the Top-8 hurdlers in the nation for the past four years. Today she ran the 400mH in 56.75.
Torres jumped further than any other females competing today (6.19m) followed by Natalie Calderon (5.91m) from the University of Redlands. Over at the pits, Hendry, a Canadian pole vaulter, tied the track record, at 14’3.25”, falling just short of a new PR. Occidental vaulter Kera Bartlett cleared 12’02” on her first attempt, but was unsuccessful at 12’06”.
Please click here for a complete list of results.
Athletes earning bids to the NCAA Division III National Championships will compete May 22-24 at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. Qualifying athletes will be announcing during the coming week.
