Titans’ Hopes High for Big West Track

The Cal State Fullerton men finished seventh among nine teams in the Big West track and field championships last season, but Coach John Elders expects the Titans to move up in the standings in this week’s meet at Idaho.

Sophomore Brandon Campbell was Fullerton’s only individual champion last year, winning the long jump with a mark of 24 feet 5 3/4 inches. He cleared 6-9 3/4 to finish third in the high jump and is expected to be a leading contender in both events when competition begins Friday. Most finals will be Saturday.

Elders also expects junior Kevin Howard to be a threat in the 100 and 200 meters. Howard ranks second in the Big West in the 100 with a time of 10.35 seconds and third in the 200 at 21.28.

Senior Damion Jackson’s time of 14.49 ranks fourth in the high hurdles. In the intermediate hurdles, Simeon Rogers ranks fourth with a time of 52.36 and Richard Adams is fifth at 52.40. Both are freshmen.

Top contenders for the Fulleron women, last among 11 teams last season, are sprinters Carla Battle and Genia Daniels, along with triple jumper Anna Doty and pole vaulter Tricia Gutierrez.

UC Irvine’s top contenders include distance runner Chris Evans, fifth in the men’s 10,000 last year. His top time of 31:43.34 this season ranks seventh. Freshman Mike Nguyen’s triple jump of 46-8 ranks fifth.

Among the Irvine women, sophomore Kareen Nilsson has the conference’s third-best time in the 5,000 meters at 17:02.18 and fourth-best in the 3,000 at 9:54.16. Junior long jumper Anita Sampson ranks fifth at 18-8 1/2.