May 7, 2001
Coming Up
The San Diego State women's track and field team closes out its regular season Saturday, May 12, when the Aztecs travel to Pasadena, Calif., for the Oxy Invitational. The meet, which begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 8:30 p.m. with the 4x400 meter relay, will be the squad's final tune up before the Aztecs host the 2001 Mountain West Conference Track and Field Championships, May 16-19, on the Choc Sportsman Oval at the SDSU Sports Deck.
Putting The Finishing Touches On the Texas and Steve Scott Invitational
San Diego State athletes posted eight new top times at the Texas Invitational and added four more at the Steve Scott Invite to cap another strong weekend.
In Austin, Texas, junior Kylie Edwards won the 800 meters, sophomore Alicia Stewart placed third in the 3000 meters, senior Aimee Crabtree and junior Tricia Gutierrez took second and fourth, respectively, in the pole vault and senior Aja Frary finished third in the long jump. The big news for the Aztecs, however, was made in the 100-meter hurdles, where junior Daveetta Shepherd and Marisa Robinson both posted NCAA qualifying times.
Shepherd, who placed sixth overall but second among collegiate entrants, ran a season- and conference- best time of 13.42, her second NCAA provisional qualifying mark in as many weeks and the sixth-fastest fastest time in SDSU history. Robinson, who finished ninth, also qualified for nationals with her season-best time of 13.52, the ninth-fastest in SDSU history.
Other Aztecs clocking season bests at the Texas Invite included freshman Jillita Griffin in the 200 meters, sophomore Jennifer Stakiw in the 800 meters, freshman Chanel Day in the 100 hurdles and sophomore Leslie Miller in the 100-hurdles, 400-hurdles and long jump.
At Irvine, freshman Aroline Neal placed third in the long jump, clearing 17-02.25, while Meriah Earle (1500), Hillery Gemmill (5000), Julianne Ghiglieri (5000) and Abbey Huchel (pole vault) turned in season-best performances.
List Of NCAA-Qualifying Aztecs Continues To Grow
San Diego State senior Marisa Robinson added her name to the list of Aztecs hoping for an invitation to Eugene, Ore., for the 2001 NCAA Championships at the Texas Invitational last week, running a season-best and NCAA provisional qualifying time of 13.52. It is the second fastest time in the 100 hurdles in the MWC this season after teammate Daveetta Shepherd's 13.42 (also run at the Texas Invite). Since the start of the year, Robinson has shaved nearly 1.5 seconds off her 100-hurdles time.
In addition to Robinson, Aimee Crabtree (pole vault), Tricia Gutierrez (pole vault) and Daveetta Shepherd (100-meter hurdles) have also posted NCAA provisional marks. Aja Frary (heptathlon) is the only SDSU athlete to have automatically qualified.
Team-Scored Meets Agree With Aztecs
Though it will only compete in three team-scored meets this year, including the 2001 Mountain West Conference Outdoor Championships at San Diego State, May 16-19, the SDSU women's track and field team has really taken to the format. The Aztecs are undefeated as a team, winning both the All-Women Invitational as well as the Cal/Nevada State Championships.
Climbing The Mountain
As it heads down the stretch of the 2001 outdoor season, San Diego State continues to hold its own in the Mountain West Conference. Through nine meets, the Aztecs have posted the Mountain West Conference's best mark in 9-of-21 events (100 Meters - Melinda Smedley, 200 meters - Promise Mose, 400 meters - Promise Mose, 100 hurdles - Daveetta Shepherd, 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay, pole vault - Aimee Crabtree, long jump - Aja Frary, heptathlon - Aja Frary).
Soaring To New Heights
Aimee Crabtree continues to solidify her spot in the SDSU record books. The senior upped her school and conference record once again at Cal/Nevada, clearing 13-02.25 to take second. At the Texas Invitational last week, Crabtree placed second, topping 13-01.50, her third vault of the season over 13 feet. It was also her sixth NCAA provisional qualifying height of the year. In eight pole vault competitions thus far in 2001, Crabtree has come away the winner four times. She also owns three second-place finishes and a sixth.
Middle Distance Magic
Though she is yet to set any new personal bests this season, Kylie Edwards appears to be well positioned for a strong run at both the Mountain West Conference 800 and 1500 meters as well as an NCAA berth in each event. Edwards won her second 800-meter competition of the year at the Texas Invitational last weekend. Overall, the junior owns the conference's second-best time in the 800 meters (2:09.72) and the league's third-fastest time in the 1500 meters (4:27.00). Her 4:27.00 in the 1500 at the USC Invitational tied a personal best and ranks fourth on SDSU's outdoor records chart.