2 UVSC sprinters take first in Coug Invitational

OREM — Led by its sprinters, the Utah Valley State track and field team represented itself reasonably well Friday at the BYU Cougar Invitational.

Competing in a six-team field that included the host Cougars and Weber State, the Wolverines officially won three events and another unofficially.

Miriama Salifu and Chris Fogt (American Fork) won the women's and men's 100-meter dashes with times of 11.95 and 10.80 seconds, respectively.

In addition to her victory in the 100, Salifu took second at 200 meters and anchored the second-place 4x100 relay team.

"I was expecting my time to be much better than that (in the 100)," Salifu said. "But the weather was crazy because it was getting cold and hot. (The weather) affected me very much because it cools down your system, and then it heats it up, so it's just messing around with your body."

Zach Cook, a freshman from South Jordan, won the men's long jump for UVSC with a personal-best mark of 23 feet 1 1/4 inches. Running unattached, Wolverine cross country runner Chase Englestead won the men's 1500 in 4:00.09.

"This place, for the most part it's a well-run meet with some good competition," Utah Valley coach Scott Houle said. "We know that in each event, any kid we're trying to get qualified for our Independent Championships or Mt. SAC (Relays) is going to have the opportunity because the competition is always going to be pretty solid."

Junior thrower Gavin Shaw, the only male on the UVSC track and field team to achieve an NCAA Regional qualifying mark so far this year, scratched on all three of his attempts in the men's hammer throw.

The week that was

BASEBALL: Once the rain finally stopped falling last week, the Wolverines (8-17) dropped two of three to visiting South Dakota State (12-12) in their first home games of the season.

After showers postponed Thursday's scheduled series-opener, the Jackrabbits thumped the Wolverines 17-3 Friday night. Freshman starter Jace Brinkerhoff (Spanish Fork) gave up nine hits and seven runs in six innings of work, and the Utah Valley bullpen only threw gas on the fire by yielding 10 hits and 10 runs over the game's final three frames.