Dons Prepare for Important Weekend Meets

Friday, April 3

San Francisco, Calif.

All Day

University of San Francisco

San Francisco State Distance Carnival

Eric Causey and Jana Soethout are among the Dons seeking NCAA qualifying spots this weekend.

4/2/2015 2:00:00 PM | Track and Field

Meet Schedule Accepted Entries Live Results

Stanford Invitational: Heats | Event Schedule | Additional Information

San Francisco State Distance Carnival: Heats | Event Schedule | Additional Information

After a week of rest, the Dons' track and field team returns to action this week for two of the most important meets on the 2015 schedule.

USF will compete in the Stanford Invitation and the San Francisco State Distance Carnival, each taking place Friday and Saturday.

"Both events are two of the top track and field meets on the West Coast, so we look forward to taking advantage of the competitive opportunities this weekend," said head coach Helen Lehman-Winters. "As we enter this phase of the season, our goals are to get NCAA qualifiers and keep improving in every area."

One of those Dons looking to solidify a NCAA qualifying spot is Jana Soethout, who will compete Friday in the 10,000 meters. Last season, Soethout reached the NCAA Track and Field National Championships in the 10,000 m, where she finished eighth to earn All-American honors.

Friday will mark just her second appearance in 2015. Soethout competed in the 3,000 m at the West Coast Relays in February.

Junior Elena Burkard, who qualified for the NCAA Preliminary Championships last season in the 5,000 m, is looking to do the same in the same event on Friday. Burkard enters the Stanford Invitational with some momentum after taking first in the 800 m and 1,500 m in the Dons most recent meet, the Johnny Mathis Invitational on March 21.

Also coming into the Stanford Invitational following a strong performance will be Kenya Shakoor, who will compete Saturday in the triple jump. While only a freshman, Shakoor has shined in her first season with the Dons. On March 14, at the Aggie Open, Shakoor placed second in the triple jump with a distance of 11.44 m, her best mark of the season. She followed that performance by placing first in the triple jump at the Johnny Mathis Invitational.

Shakoor will also compete in the long jump on Saturday.

On the men's side, two Dons are hoping to qualify for the NCAA Preliminary Championships for the third-consecutive year.

Senior Jose Madera, who has qualified both times in the 10,000 m, will compete in that event Friday at the Stanford Invitational.

Madera has competed in six meets this season but has yet to run the 10,000 m. Most recently, at the Johnny Mathis Invitational, Madera placed fourth in the 1,500 m.

Junior Eric Causey, the school record holder in the 5,000 m, will compete in that event Friday at the Stanford Invitational. As a freshman, Causey qualified for the NCAA Preliminary Championships in the 10,000 m, and then again last season in the 5,000 m.

The Stanford Invitation will be the second meet of the season for Causey.

Competing in the long jump and triple jump this weekend will be Nile Norwood and Adrian Shocks. Shocks, while only a freshman, has quickly excelled in his first collegiate season.

At the Aggie Open, Shocks placed second in the triple jump with a distance of 15.24 m, a new school record. The following week, at the Johnny Mathis Invitational, Shocks placed first in the triple jump with a distance of 14.27 m.

Norwood enters this week after placing second in the long jump at the Johnny Mathis Invitational.

Other Notes: Former Don, Eva Krchova (Hudson Elite), a three-time NCAA finalist, will compete in the 3,000 m steeplechase at the Stanford Invitational on Friday evening. Krchova is the school record holder in this event.

MEN

Stanford Invitational

Friday:

Robert Parker, Javelin

San Francisco State Distance Carnival:

Friday:

1,500 m- Nick Hicks, Sean Gomes, Omar Solis

3,000 m steeplechase- Mohamed Aziz (Debut)

5,000 m- Tom Bradley, Quentin Purtzer

Saturday:

Javelin- Cameron Farrell

WOMEN