BERKELEY, Calif. – A winning and school-record performance by the men’s 4×100 meter relay team highlighted Utah State track and field’s solid performances Saturday to finish action at the Cal Brutus Hamilton Invitational. Other highlights included senior Steve Strickland winning the men’s 3,000m steeplechase with the second-fastest time in the country. “We had a great weekend with a ton of solid performances both days,” veteran USU head coach Gregg Gensel said. “The 4×100 relay team ran an awesome race and it’s very exciting for them to set a school record.” USU’s 4x100m relay team set a new school record clocking in at 40.38, the fastest in the Western Athletic Conference so far this season. Senior Dylan Nielson ran the first leg, followed by junior Armahd Lewis, then freshman Matt Maughan and sophomore Jeff Alley was the anchor. The foursome beat the previous school record of 40.40 set in 2002 by Cedric Young, Dwayne Foster, former Aggie assistant Joel Johnson and Anthony Stewart. In total, the Aggies nabbed 11 top-three finishes during the weekend in Berkeley. “We had a lot of great things happen this weekend,” Gensel said. “I’ve very pleased with the solid performances across the board.” Senior Steve Strickland won the 3,000m steeplechase, clocking in a time of 8:42.97, which is not only the best in the WAC this season, but currently the second-best in the country to date. Strickland was just shy of his USU record of 8:42.71 that he set last year. In addition to running the second leg of the 4×100, Lewis finished in second-place in the 100m with a 10.71 time. Sophomore Joe Canavan took second in the shot put with a distance of 16.83m (55-02.75), while junior Spencer Hall matched him by taking second in the discus, throwing 50.33m (165-01) which is a new season-best mark. Junior Mike Pyrtle finished the 100m invite in a personal-best time of 10.47, tabbing third-place. On the women’s side, senior Erin Stratton finished second in the 3,000m steeplechase with a career-best time of 10:24.08. Stratton’s time is the second-best in the WAC this season. Also doing well for the women was junior Sonia Grabowska who cleared a season-best 3.87m (12-08.25), tabbing fourth in the pole vault. Additionally, sophomore distance runners Kim Quinn and Brian McKenna were honored with the prestigious Utah State Robin’s Award Saturday night, missing the award ceremony due to being in Berkeley. Quinn was the female student-athlete of the year while McKenna was named the top male student-athlete, both for their performances in both cross country and track and field. The Aggies will continue action Saturday, May 1 at the Boise State Border Clash at Boise, Idaho. BERKELEY BRUTUS HAMILTON INVITATIONALAPRIL 24, 2010UTAH STATE RESULTSWOMEN 100m (prelims) – 5. Bailee Witworth, 12.30q; 12. Aubrie Haymore, 12.55. 100m – 7 Bailee Witworth, 12.33. 400m – 21. Hollie Bosworth, 58.93. 4×100 relay – 5. Utah State, 47.09 (Mercedes Blackwood, Aubrie Haymore, Jen Day, Bailee Witworth). 4×400 relay – 4x400m – 5 Utah State, 3:46.71 (Hollie Bosworth, Jen Day, Aubrie Haymore, Elaine Connolly). 3,000sc (open) – 2. Erin Stratton, 10:24.08; 4. Alicia Holt, 10:48.50; 8. Stephanie Burt, 11:00.69; 9. Ruth Hilton, 11:05.01; 13. Marissa Floodman, 11:21.48. Triple jump – 8. Julia Stewart, 11.37m (37-03.75). High Jump – 8. Brianne Campbell, 1.63m (5-04.25); 15. Madison Jensen, 1.58m (5-02.25); 19. Lauren Gwilliam, 1.53m (5-00.25). Discus – 4. Shannon Prince, 47.41m (155-06); 6. Lindsey Spencer, 45.53m (149-04); 14. Spela Hus, 38.66m (126-10). Pole Vault – 4. Sonia Grabowska, 3.87m (12-08.25). Shot Put – 6. Spela Hus, 14.17m (46-06.00); 11. Lindsey Spencer, 13.13m (43-01.00). Discus – 4. Shannon Prince, 47.41m (155-06); 6. Lindsey Spencer, 45.53m (149-04); 14. Spela Hus, 38.66m (126-10). Javelin – 13. Camille Fehlberg, 37.77m (123-11). MEN100m (open-prelims) – 1. Armahd Lewis, 10.61q. 100m (open) – 2. Armahd Lewis, 10.71. 100m (invite) – 3 Mike Pyrtle, 10.47. 110h (open-prelims) – 10. Jon Goble, 15.71. 110h (invite) – 5. Dylan Nielson, 14.58. 200m – 4 Armahd Lewis, 22.07. 400m – 15. Tyler Killpack, 50.04. 4x100m relay – 1. Utah State, 40.38 (Dylan Nielson, Armahd Lewis, Matt Maughan, Jeff Alley). 4x400m relay – 2. Utah State, 3:14.17 (Jeff Alley, Jason Holt, Tyler Killpack, Nick Karren). *** USU record 800m – 7. Jason Holt, 1:52.58. 1500m – 7. Eric Larson, 3:50.76; 11. Hunter Nelson, 3:51.96. 3,000sc (open) – 1. Steve Strickland. 8:42.97; 4. Daniel Howell, 8:59.84; 10. Aaron Clements, 9:19.74; 11. Steve Atkinson, 9:22.13; 12. Nick Bolinder, 9:22.68. 5,000m – 18. Kyle Moffit, 15:31.27. Shot Put – 2. Joe Canavan, 16.83m (55-02.75); 6. Spencer Hall, 15.23m (49-11.75); 9. Daniel Cruz, 14.98m (49-01.75). Discus – 2. Spencer Hall, 50.33m (165-01); 5. Daniel Cruz, 48.44m (158-11); 18. Joe Canavan, 41.00m (134-06). -USU-