June 1, 2002
BATON ROUGE, La. - San Diego State sophomore Tonette Dyer earned All-America status on Saturday, running the sixth-fastest time by an American entrant in the finals of the 400-meter dash at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The Shreveport, La., native clocked in at 53.98, finishing in ninth place. The top-eight American finishers are awarded All-America honors. Three of the athletes in Saturday's 400 meters final hail from outside the U.S.
SDSU has had at least one All-American in four of the last five seasons. In 2001, Aja Frary did so in the heptathlon and Daveetta Shepherd in the 100 hurdles.
The 2002 season is not over for Dyer as she is one of three SDSU athletes scheduled to compete in the USA Track and Field Championships to be held June 20-23 in Palo Alto, Calif. She will race in the 200 and 400 meters. Freshman Shayla Balentine, who competed in the pole vault at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, will make an appearance in that same event at the USATF meet. Junior Melinda Smedley will run the 200 meters.
Women's College Track and Field
NCAA Outdoor Championships
Bernie Moore Stadium, Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, La.
June 1, 2002
SDSU Finishers
400-Meter Dash (Final)
9. Tonnette Dyer, 53.98