ARCATA — Humboldt State will throw itself into the Kim Duyst Track & Field Invitational in Turlock on Saturday. Two heptathletes will also compete in the Chico Multi-Event meet on Thursday and Friday.
 
"On the men's side, our strength will be our throwers — Matt Horsfall, Chester O'Neal, Viet Duong and Josh Toney. Those four are a pretty powerful crew," said HSU head coach Scott Pesch.
 
Horsfall has already qualified for an NCAA provisional mark in the javelin, throwing it 191-5 in the Green and Gold Open earlier this month. The provisional mark is 187-4.
 
O'Neal, Duong and Toney will throw the discus and shot put, and O'Neal will also compete in the hammer.
 
"They have a nice runway and a good facility at Cal State Stanislaus," Pesch said. "We are hoping to improve our marks and get some early personal records." The Warriors hosted the NCAA national championships in 2011.
 
Kaytee Krivulka, a JC transfer from Santa Barbara, and Ashley Ross, a freshman from San Diego, are expected to do well in the throws for the women. "They are looking strong," Pesch said. Krivulka will compete in the discus, shot and hammer, while Ross will throw in the discus and shot put.
 
While the throwers are a strength, Pesch said the next provisional mark could come from the steeplechase.
 
"We will be trying to get a couple of provisional qualifiers in the steeplechase with Brent Ritschel for the men, and Kori Gilley and Caroline Kaufman for the women," Pesch said.
 
Pesch also expects the hurdlers and middle distance runners to be a good threat in the meets ahead, including, ultimately, the conference championships.
 
"Fred Rosser and Dominique Pearson will be running both hurdle events on Saturday," Pesch said. "It will be a little early for Fred to post a qualifying mark, but keep him on the radar for March for a provisional time in the 400 hurdles. In the 800 and 1500, we expect strong races from Ben Tarango, Jantzen Oshier and Mario Castillo-Urbina on the men's team and Jessica Bath on the women's."
 
Marissa McCay and Alyssabeth DeJerez will compete in the heptathlon at the Chico Multi-Event meet.
 
"They are both in great shape but I don't know what to expect at Chico. They have posted some good marks in the various events, but this will be the first time they have put it all together," Pesch said.
 
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