Utah schools send large contingent to regionals
Utah State University will send 13 student athletes, including five women and eight men. John Strang headlines the group after winning his second-straight WAC decathlon championship, but several other Aggies will look to steal the spotlight.
USU coach Gregg Gensel praised junior Katie Thatcher for her 400-meter hurdles championship. Thatcher competed for two seasons before serving an LDS Church mission. This is her first season back and she hasn't missed a step due to the lapse in training.
"She's actually running faster since she's been back," Gensel said of Thatcher, who won the WAC title with a career-best time of 59.47.
Weber State is sending 11 student athletes to regionals, including three women and eight men, headlined by walk-on freshmen Eric Bailey. Bailey won the Big Sky 400-meter hurdles title and also competes on the 4x400-meter team.
"He's been a terrific member of our team," said WSU coach Dan Walker. "He completely deserved a scholarship when he came here, but by the time he was targeted I didn't have anything to offer him."
The University of Utah will have five representatives, all women, in this weekend's competition. Most notably are a pair of Chelseas. Chelsea Shapard earned her second-straight 400-meter hurdles championship, while Chelsea DiGrazia will compete in the 1,500 meters.
UVSC is not competing this weekend, as the school is still on NCAA provisional status.
E-mail: jwilliams@desnews.com
Recent comments
That C. Jake Williams sure can write, I think that they should give…
TBrasfield | June 9, 2008 at 8:50 a.m.
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USU | June 4, 2008 at 2:37 p.m.
GO UTAH!!!
Anonymous | May 28, 2008 at 5:43 p.m.
