Despite training solely outdoors, the Sacramento State track and field team competed well at the Big Sky Championships in Pocatello, Idaho.

“They gave every ounce of effort and showed a lot of heart,” Head Coach Kathleen Raske said. With a short indoor season — the Hornets only had three meets before the conference championships — Raske said it was difficult to compete with some of the more experienced indoor teams.

However, the sixth place finish for the men was the best in school history. The men were led by sophomore David Nichols, who won his first Big Sky title in the shot put, and Chauncey Corbin, who scored 14 points for the Hornets on the second day of competition and finished second in the 55-meter hurdles.

Senior Brandon Parker defended his Big Sky Championship from last year in the long-jump by jumping 24-feet 9-inches, a new school record.

“That was important for someone who’s been chasing that for a long time,” Raske said. “It was a very happy moment.”

Also a first for Sac State track and field, three Hornet men — Parker, Nichols and senior Geoff Fong in the weight throw — qualified for indoor nationals.

The Hornets only sent 11 women to Idaho, but they were able to score 49 points, finishing seventh. Raske said the women had some turnover after last season when they lost some athletes, but was pleased with the team’s result.

“For seven girls to score 49 points, that’s impressive,” Raske said.

Sophomore Tyriena Henley-Henderson led the way, scoring 17 points in three events, including a second place finish in the 200 with a personal best time of 25.16 seconds. She also had a personal best in the triple jump (38-10.25), good enough for third.

In the field, junior LeClaire Ebow finished third in the pentathlon, with teammate Emily Griffin just behind her in fourth.”We just keep moving up and improving,” Raske said. “We’re not necessarily an indoor team, so they competed really well.”