Ellis gets outdoor season going in right direction

NCAA indoor relay champion produces No. 2 outdoor 200-meter mark in world, one of eight collegiate-leading efforts at USC Trojan Invitational

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

USC junior Kendall Ellis picked up in her outdoor opener right where she left off at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Ellis ran the second-fastest outdoor 200-meter time in the world this year Saturday by clocking a personal-best 22.79 seconds at the USC Trojan Invitational.  RESULTS  INTERVIEWS

Ellis anchored USC to an indoor collegiate record 3:27.03 in the 4x400 relay March 11 in College Station, Texas, in addition to taking runner-up in the 400 behind Miami (Florida) senior Shakima Wimbley by a 51.061 to 51.068 margin.

Ellis’ 200 effort, sixth all-time in USC history, was one of eight collegiate-leading outdoor performances at the Trojan Invitational, along with four by USC athletes.

Senior Amalie Iuel ran a Norwegian record 51.81 in the women’s 400, in addition to leading off USC’s victorious 4x400 relay that prevailed in 3:38.55. Iuel was also a member of the indoor collegiate record 4x400, along with Cameron Pettigrew, Deanna Hill and Ellis.

Iuel’s 400 performance ranks third in the world this year and elevated her to No. 5 in USC history.

Sophomore Margaux Jones equaled the collegiate lead with a leap of 19-11.50 (6.08m) in the women’s long jump and junior Nick Ponzio produced a mark of 62-7.75 (19.09m) in the men’s shot put.

Long Beach State sophomore Kemonie Briggs delivered the top collegiate outdoor mark in the long jump of 25-10.25 (7.88m) and Washington pole vaulter Kristina Owsinski cleared 13-11.25 (4.25m).

BYU teammates Daniel Carney and Courtney Wayment recorded the top collegiate performances in the 3,000 steeplechase. Carney, a sophomore, ran 8:53.52 and Wayment, a freshman, clocked 10:13.39 in her outdoor debut after competing in four 3,000 races – with a personal-best 9:26.22 – during her first indoor season.