Miller Wins Pole Vault, Headlining Big West Championships

DAVIS, Calif. – CSU Bakersfield men and women's track and field showed up and made their presence known Friday at the Woody Wilson Track and Toomy Field in Davis. Miranda Miller highlighted the first day of the Big West Championships soaring to a conference title in pole vault. The Roadrunners had six field athletes score and four track athletes advance to tomorrow's finals.

Miranda Miller reset the conference, championship meet, and school record taking home the first women's title since CSUB moved Division I in 2007. The previous meet record was 13'11" cleared by Cal Poly's Brooke Tjerrild last season. Miller's career-best mark of 14'1.25" earned the women's program 10 points towards the team score.

Kassidy Neptune placed eighth overall in pole vault adding a point to the women's team score.

Evan Vigrass advanced to the finals in men's javelin placing sixth overall. His personal record (190'7") tallied three points towards the men's team score, the first of the day.

Thomas Richardson advanced to the finals in men's shot put narrowly missing the podium with a fourth-place finish in the event. His throw brought the men's program's score up eight points.

A pair of high jumpers rounded out the men's scorers on Friday. Jesus Alverez led CSUB in the event placing fifth overall while Ryan Bentley finished eighth as the duo combined for five team points.

Four athletes will race on Saturday in the finals. Mariah LeSure advanced in the 100m, Curtis Threlkeld in the 800m, while Riley Slayton and Julia Stein both advanced in the 400H.

"Our kids are doing a fantastic job," said Director of Track & Field, Cross Country Marcia Mansur-Wentworth. "I am really excited."

"Miranda made history, Tom did awesome in shot put, our high jumpers did great, and the four advancing tomorrow are in a great place," added Mansur-Wentworth.

"I am really excited, thrilled, and I am so proud of them. They're representing CSUB well."

Bakersfield's remaining field athletes (men's hammer, men's triple jump, and women's high jump) will get their shot at a Big West title on Saturday while Mariah LeSure, Curtis Threlkeld, Riley Slayton, and Julia Stein will race in finals events on the track.

~GoRunners.com~

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Players Mentioned

Mariah LeSure: Sprints; 5' 3"; Senior

Riley Slayton: Hurdles, Sprints; 5' 6"; Sophomore

Curtis Threlkeld: 400m, 800m; 6' 0"; Senior

Miranda Miller: Jumps; 5' 5"; Freshman

Kassidy Neptune: Pole Vault; 5' 2"; Freshman

Thomas Richardson: Throws; 5' 11"; Freshman

Ryan Bentley: High Jump; 6' 2"; Sophomore

Julia Stein: Hurdles; 5' 8"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Mariah LeSure
: 5' 3"; Senior
: Sprints

Riley Slayton
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: Hurdles, Sprints

Curtis Threlkeld
: 6' 0"; Senior
: 400m, 800m

Miranda Miller
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: Jumps

Kassidy Neptune
: 5' 2"; Freshman
: Pole Vault

Thomas Richardson
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: Throws

Ryan Bentley
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: High Jump

Julia Stein
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: Hurdles