Titan Track and Field Making Big Strides

No Cal State Fullerton athlete has qualified for the NCAA track and field national championships since distance runner Heather Killeen Frisone in 1995, but Coach John Elders believes that could change this season.

At least three Titans have a chance, Elders says, if they continue to improve.

Brandon Campbell, the Big West champion in the long jump last season as a freshman, is a potential qualifier in the long jump and high jump. Other possibilities are Kevin Howard in the 100 meters and Tricia Gutierrez in the women’s pole vault.

Campbell equaled the NCAA provisional qualifying height in the high jump, clearing 7 feet 1 3/4 at the Mt. San Antonio College meet. He cleared 6-11 3/4 last weekend in the Cal-Nevada Championships at Berkeley, becoming Fullerton’s first champion in the event since Mike Tansley in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 1994.

Campbell’s season best in the long jump is 24-4 1/4. He won the Big West last season with a 24-5 3/4 effort.

“We think he will need to clear 7-2 1/2 in the high jump and go 25-5 1/2 in the long jump to qualify, but both of those are within his range,” Elders said.

Howard’s season-best time in the 100 is 10.35 seconds, .01 seconds off the provisional qualifying time. He was second in the 100 at the Cal-Nevada meet with a wind-slowed time of 10.67 seconds and finished third in the 200 at 21.68.

Gutierrez cleared 12-3 1/2 in the Cal-Nevada meet to set a school record.

A minimum of 17 athletes qualify for each event, but the NCAA can add competitors at its discretion.

The Titans will compete Sunday in the Steve Scott Invitational at UC Irvine.