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May 15, 2008 - 9:37PM
ASU chasing Pac-10 championship
Comments | RecommendMark Heller, Tribune
A well-kept sports secret has a golden chance to make history this weekend. Veteran followers and novices have one last chance to watch some of the best athletes in Arizona State history at the men's and women's Pac-10 track and field championships.
On the women's side, the Sun Devils will attempt to three-peat as conference champions.
UCLA dwarfed the rest of the Pac-10 in years past, as the Bruins won the first four conference meets (1987-1990), three more in the mid-1990s and eight consecutive through 2004.
The tide has turned. The Sun Devils have won two in a row, and a third title this weekend would put them second in the Pac-10 overall behind UCLA (15).
"We're one of the better kept secrets in the Valley," ASU coach Greg Kraft said. "We have one of the best the state has ever produced (Jacquelyn Johnson) and there's some nice local stories with plenty of talent. They have a chance to come out and watch the finest (Pac-10) programs in the country."
Johnson already gave the Sun Devils a head start last weekend by winning her third heptathlon in what's been a record-shattering college career. She will be in action again this weekend in the hurdles, high jump and javelin competitions.
Sarah Stevens is also back to defend her shot put and discus titles, and there's more.
The men's team, coming off a national indoors championship in March, is looking to win its first conference crown since 1981. For the second time in school history, the men's squad finished second last season, but it came in frustrating fashion against Oregon (114-111).
Last-minute injuries hampered the Sun Devils in multiple races.
This time, ASU is healthy, but trails the Ducks by 19 points following last weekend's heptathlon/decathlon events. Kraft called Oregon the favorite, with his Sun Devils, UCLA and USC also in the mix. And there's a chance to make a move if the Sun Devils act quickly and narrow the deficit.
"We have to make a move (tonight)," Kraft said.
To do so, they will need defending long jump champion Matt Turner (he'll also compete in the triple jump) and Oregon-transfer Kyle Alcorn (defending 3,000-meter champion) to come through again and close the early gap.
Also key are ASU's strength in field events, particularly the shot put and discus, as Oregon is a heavy favorite in the distance running events.
"It's going to take a combination of things," Kraft said. "We're going to have to come through and they'll have to have a setback or two, but on paper there's some opportunities."
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