Trojans capture titles across California


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Split between two events this weekend, the USC track and field team still managed to capture 11 combined titles at the Tiny Lister and UC San Diego invitationals.

Leader of the pack · Junior distance runner David Branch captured one of the Trojans’ 11 titles last weekend when he ran his season-best time of 3:57.06 in the 1,500-meter event at the Tiny Lister Invitational. - Gary Fung | Daily Trojan

Two Trojans captured hammer throw events at both invitationals this weekend — redshirt sophomore Marissa Minderler at Tiny Lister and junior Trey Henderson at UCSD.

Minderler’s winning throw of 193 feet, one inch was good enough to move her into eighth place on the all-time hammer throw list at USC.

Henderson’s throw of 216 feet, eight inches edged out Guatemala’s Raul Rivera’s toss by more than five feet to capture the title in San Diego.

Senior Ekene Anene captured two jumping titles at Tiny Lister, clearing a career best of five feet, five inches in the high jump and a season-best 40-foot leap in the triple jump.

Showing more overall strength, senior Brandon Estrada also took the Tiny Lister title in pole vault with a height of 17 feet, 6.5 inches.

The track events were equally successful for USC, as senior Myra Hasson took first in the 400-meter sprint at 55.10 seconds and freshman Alexis Brown placing 12th with her season-best time of 59.23.

Among the winners on the men’s side of the track were senior Jason Price’s season-best 47.79 winning time in the 400-meter and junior David Branch’s season-best time of 3:57.06 in the 1,500-meter.

Junior Brendan Ames continued his strong hurdling season with another victory at Tiny Lister, running a 13.91 in the 110-meter hurdles. Freshman Reggie Wyatt won the 400-meter hurdles in 51.58, despite running more than a second slower than his 400-meter sprint last week, which was his season-best effort.

Redshirt sophomore Amechi Egbe was able to set a season best at the Tiny Lister, running the 100-meter dash in a wind-aided 10.67.

The Trojans will next take part in their all-important USC-UCLA dual meet on May 1 before Pac-10 conference events begin the following week.

Last season, the Trojans topped the Bruins in convincing fashion at their dual meet, sweeping UCLA. The sweep was the first time USC beat both UCLA’s men’s and women’s squads since the women began competing in 1984.

The victory in last year’s edition also clinched the Gauntlet Trophy — the all-sport competition between UCLA and USC — for the Trojans.