University Southern California Trojans
USC Has Strong Showing At New Balance Invitational
February 10, 2011 | Track & Field
Feb. 10, 2011
Nia Ali's collegiate-leading time in the 60m hurdles highlighted USC's successful trip to New Balance Invitational at the Armory in New York, N.Y. held on Feb. 4-5.
Ali won the women's 60m hurdles with a time of 8.06 which is the best time by a college runner this season and ranks third by a U.S. female so far this indoor season. Also competing in the 60m women's hurdlers for USC was freshman Lauren Blackburn. She placed 11th overall with a time of 8.38.
Oscar Spurlock and Brendan Ames also had a good start to the season, finishing second and fifth in the men's 60m hurdles, after posting the two fastest qualifying times. Spurlock took second with a time of 7.71 and Ames fifth with a time of 7.83. Ames ran a 7.75 race in the prelims.
Aareon Payne showed well in her first race of the season, placing eighth in the women's 200m dash with a time of 23.96. Hurdler Dalilah Muhammad ran in the 500m race and placed second with a time of 1:13.07.
Freshman Loudia Laarman and Jenna Puterbaugh and sophomore jumper Alitta Boyd ran in the 60m dash. Laarman placed second in her heat with a time of 7.52, Puterbaugh fifth in her heat with a time of 7.72 and Boyd 8th in her heat with a time of 7.84. They did not advance to the finals, but Laarman finished 19th overall.
Boyd also competed in the women's long jump, but had three fouls.
All of these athletes as well as newcomers Jackie Dion, Jessica Davis, Kathryn Karkut, Viktor Fajoyomi and returning athletes Christine Cortez, Anniya Louis, Shana Woods, Ashley Pyka, Marissa Minderler and Tamara Baumann will be in action this weekend (Feb. 11-12) at the Texas A&M Challenge in College Station, Texas.
