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OGDEN, Utah (May 19, 2010) - The Big Sky head outdoor track and field coaches have named Sacramento State’s Kathleen Raske and Weber State’s Dan Walker the Big Sky Conference women and men’s Outdoor Track and Field Coaches of the Year.
Raske led the Hornet women to their third straight conference outdoor title this weekend at the Big Sky Outdoor Championship May 12-15 in Ogden, Utah. Sacramento State’s women finished with 145 points, well ahead second place Northern Arizona at 106. The Hornets became only third program in league histiry to win three straight outdoor women’s titles, the other two were Northern Arizona (2004-06) and Boise State (1984-86).
The Hornets were lead by a spectacular performance from sophomore Moira Robinson. Robinson won gold in the triple jump, long jump, high jump, and the 100m-hurdles. Her 40 total points ties her for most all-time in league history in a single outdoor championship. Robinson recorded season bests in the high jump, 5’ 8”, and the 100m-hurdles, 13.78 seconds.
Raske was selected the Women’s Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year earlier this year after leading the Hornets to a team title in Bozeman, Mont. She was also selected the Men’s and Women’s Indoor Coach of the Year in 2008, and Women’s Indoor Coach of the Year in 2007. She is only the second coach in league history to win the Women’s Outdoor Coach of the Year honor three-straight years.
This marks Dan Walker’s first Big Sky coach of the year honor. He became the head men’s track and field coach at Weber State in December 2006 after serving for 22 years as the assistant coach at the school. It is also the first time he has captured a Big Sky tack and field team title.
The Weber State men’s team won their first outdoor title since 2006 after sealing the victory in the final event. Heading into the men’s 4x400m relay Weber State lead Northern Arizona by a half point. The Wildcat relay team entered the championship with the conference’s best mark, and the Lumberjacks gave them an early test in the race. In the end thought the anchor leg of Taylor Pebley was too much and Weber State sealed the title when he crossed the finish line at 3:12.06.
The Wildcats also collected points from Tyler McBee’s first-place finish in the 400m-hurdles. Pebley finished third in the same race, along with grabbing a silver medal in the 400m. Chris Struckman had a pair of second-place finishes, the first coming in the 100m and the other in the long jump. Freshman Mike Staker finished second in the high jump, while Ryan Shelton took second in the shot put, and Eki Faagai also took second in the discus.