THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1999

Track team winds down

By Rory Barnett

On-Line Forty-Niner

The Long Beach State track and field team will end its spectacular season against top schools at the Big West Conference championships on May 19-22 at Cal State Fullerton. The Beach is coming off last weekend's meet with a great performance in Eagle Rock and hopes the momentum will continue.

"This is the best team we have had in a long time," said 49er track coach Andy Sythe. "With top performances all-around by both men and women, the team is a well-prepared group."

The Beach will compete against such schools as New Mexico State, University of Nevada, and Pacific. Utah State is considered the favorite going into the meet, Sythe said.

"We know we're going to be challenged and we're looking for challenges," Sythe said. "This is our last shot at qualifying for nationals, but for the most part, we are going to enjoy ourselves and have fun."

A selection committee will determine who is chosen for nationals on May 27, Sythe said.

"Previous [track] marks just give you experience and the confidence to perform well," he said.

On the women's team, Darby Kelly is the conference leader in the decathlon with 7,059 points and hopes to be in nationals. Other national hopefuls are Amaris Buchanan, who holds records in the 100-meters with a time of 11.48 seconds and in the 200-meters with 23.53. Pole vaulter Leslie Smith and Marion Reneau, who holds the conference record in the heptathlon with 5248 points, also await a decision by the committee.

On the men's team, Jon O'Neil, who holds a conference record in the discus with 194 feet, 6 inches, and pole vaulter Borya Celentano, who holds a conference record of 18 feet, 6 1/2 inches are waiting for the committee's selections. 400-meter sprinter Lewis Young and 400-meter hurdler Wil Moore are also awaiting selection.

The NCAA national outdoor championships will be in Boise, Idaho on June 2-5. Meanwhile, the decathlon and heptathlon at the conference championships will be on the 19-20, and regular events on the 21-22. All events start at 11 a.m.