Feb. 15, 2003
SEATTLE - In its final indoor tune-up prior to the conference championship meet, the San Diego State women's track and field squad claimed a first-place finish in one event and tied a school record in another at the 2003 University of Washington Indoor Invitational Saturday at the Dempsey Indoor.
"The team's level of competition and performance has been much higher this year than it was last year," Aztec assistant coach Jennifer Nanista said. "We're sitting in a better position heading into the conference meet, and I've been impressed particularly by the effort of our freshmen so far this season."
For the second straight week, SDSU sophomore Shayla Balentine (Los Osos, Calif.) cleared 12-10 in the pole vault, tying her school record which she set at last week's Mountain T's Invitational in Flagstaff, Ariz. The mark was also her second NCAA provisional qualifying height of the season.
Aztec junior Tonette Dyer (Shreveport, La.) was the team's only winner on the day, posting a first place in the 200 meters with a time of 24.41. Dyer later added a personal best indoor time of 54.62 in the 400-meter run, finishing fourth overall.
SDSU showed off their depth in the sprint events, recording half of the top 10 finishes in the 400 meters and occupying four of the top 10 spots in the 200-meter race. Senior Jini Hogg (San Francisco, Calif.) and teammate Nicole Ireland (Las Vegas, Nev.) tied for fifth place in the 400 meters with matching times of 54.79, while Ireland also was fifth in the 200 with a time of 24.60.
Other top-five finishes on the day for SDSU went to senior Jesika Englebretson (Salinas, Calif.) in the pole vault (3rd - 11-5.75) and junior Candace Hill (San Diego, Calif.), who for the second straight week posted a personal best in a event, with this week's record-setting effort being in the shot put with a throw of 45-01.75. Ireland also was fifth in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.84.
SDSU will take a week off before heading to Colorado Springs, Colo., for the Mountain West Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, slated for Feb. 27 - March 1 at the Air Force Academy.