Cal’s Suleman hits 50 feet in triple

California Athletics

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sophomore Hammed Suleman soared to a distance of 50-2.50 in the triple jump to become the first Golden Bear to surpass 50 feet in the event in seven years, highlighting Cal’s second day of competition at the season-opening Cherry & Silver Invitational.

Suleman, the 2009 California state champion in the outdoor triple jump while at Antioch’s Deer Valley HS, finished second to Arizona’s Nick Ross by a mere 2.75 inches. Suleman started off with a leap of 48-11.50 before moving up the leader board on his fifth attempt. He finished with a best of 50-2.50 to Ross’s 50-5.25.

The last Bear to record a triple jump of at least 50 feet indoors was Bruce Giron, who went 51-9 at the 2004 MPSF Championships. Both Giron (52-10) and Vincent Ibia (52-0) topped 50 feet during the 2004 outdoor season. Suleman’s top mark as a freshman last year was 49-9.25 outdoors.

In the women’s triple jump, Aziza Baker placed third with a best of 40-10.25, which came on her first of six tries, while Amanda Hunter set a PR with a mark of 39-8.00 (fourth place).

Freshman Chioma Amaechi was runner-up in the shot put. Her effort of 48-9.00 was the furthest at Cal since Missy Faubus had a shot mark of 49-4.40 in 2007. Linda Oseso, who took third in the weight throw Friday night, was 18th in the shot (40-4.75).

In the women’s 800 meters, Taylor Dutch held a slight lead through the first 600 meters before being edged at the wire by Portland State’s Amber Rozcicha. Dutch finished in 2:16.05 to Rozcicha’s 2:15.77.

Freshman Charnell Price was the eighth and final qualifier for the 60 final in 7.65 seconds, then moved up to fifth with a time of 7.57.

Other notable performances came from freshman Monte Corley, who was fourth in the men’s 60-meter hurdles in 8.12, and Emani Truluck, who set a PR of 8.56 in the women’s 60 hurdles race. Truluck qualified for the final with a time of 8.92 in her heat earlier in the day.

The Bears next travel to Seattle, Wash., for the UW Invitational Jan. 28-29.

Cherry & Silver Invitational
Albuquerque Convention Center
Albuquerque, N.M.

Saturday’s Results

Men’s Results
60 meters – 6. Chase Wheeler 7.02; 11. Nick Porter 7.07; 13. Mike Morrison 7.10; 18. Charles Saseun 7.18; 21. Idarre Coles 7.26

400 meters – 13. Dan Davis 49.73; 23; Tojsh Kennedy 51.13; 28. Idarre Coles 53.99

800 meters – 10. Sebastian Sam 1:55.40; 13. Aaron Burney 8.55

60-meter hurdles – 4. Monte Corley 8.12;

4×400-meter relay – 2. Kennedy, Corley, Sam, Morrison 3:17.17

Triple Jump – 2. Hammed Suleman 50-2.50 (15.30); 12. Taylor Kientzel-Means 45-0.25; Chad Jones NM

Pole Vault – 10. Connor Landry 15-7.00 (4.75m)

Shot Put – 8. Patrick Kowalsky 52-4.50 (15.96m)

Women’s Results
60 meters – 5. Charnell Price 7.57; 9. Cherrelle Garrett 7.66

400 meters – 4. Angelica Weaver 56.21; 7. Ashley Cooke 56.72; 10. Kayla Dixon 57.29

800 meters – 2. Taylor Dutch 2:16.06

60-meter hurdles – 2. Emani Truluck 8.56

4×400-meter relay – 3. Dixon, Weaver, Cooke, Price 3:51.62

Pole Vault – 7. Allison Stokke 13-1.50 (4.00m); 8. Theresa Raub 12-7.50 (3.85m)

Triple Jump – 3. Aziza Baker 40-10.25 (12.45m); 4. Amanda Hunter 39-8.00 (12.09m)

Shot Put – 2 Chioma Amaechi 48-9.00 (14.86m); 18. Linda Oseso 40-4.75 (12.31m)