June 12, 2003
SACRAMENTO - San Diego State track and field's record-breaking season continued Friday as the Aztecs advanced one individual and one relay to the finals at the 2003 NCAA championships in Sacramento, Calif. The team's 4x400 relay placed second in its preliminary heat, while junior Nicole Ireland (Las Vegas, Nev.) ran the fifth-fastest semifinal time of 56.89 in the 400 hurdles at Cal State Sacramento's Hornet Stadium.
Ireland, who finished third in her semifinal heat, will make her first career appearance in the finals of the 400 hurdles, set for Friday evening at 7:25 p.m. (PDT). The junior will be in search of her third straight All-America distinction in the event after placing 10th in 2002 and 11th her freshman campaign both while enrolled at the University of Alabama. The top eight Americans earn All-America honors in each event by the United States Track Coaches Association.
Joining Ireland in the finals will be the team's 4x400-meter relay of junior Tonette Dyer (Shreveport, La.), Ireland, senior Jini Hogg (San Francisco, Calif.) and freshman Bianca McNair (Portland, Ore.). The foursome rounded out the day by placing second in their heat with a time of 3:35.19, eighth overall in the 20-school field.
Also competing individually Thursday was Dyer in the 200 and 400 meters. The junior failed to advance to the semifinals of the 200 meters, running a preliminary time of 24.45. Later in the day, however, the All-American logged the seventh-fastest qualifying time of 52.36, a career best, in the 400 meters to advance to Friday's semifinals at 8:25 p.m. Dyer placed ninth in the 400-meter race at the 2002 NCAA championships.
All four of the Aztec individual qualifiers will be in action Friday with exception of senior Melinda Smedley (Stockton, Calif.), who was forced to withdraw from the meet Wednesday due to injury. Senior Leslie Miller (Humble, Texas) and freshman Shanon Meyer (Hesperia, Calif.) begin day one action of the heptathlon, while Ireland will compete in the 400-hurdles finals and Dyer will race in the 400 meters semifinals.
San Diego State's NCAA Track & Field Championships Schedule/Results
Wed., June 11 Time Student-Athlete Event Result 7:55 p.m. Nicole IrelandPrelims - 400 hurdles 57.37 (Qualified For Semis)
Thurs., June 12 Time Student-Athlete Event Result 10:15 a.m. Tonette Dyer Prelims - 200 meters 24.45 (25th of 29) 12:55 p.m. Tonette Dyer Prelims - 400 meters 52.36 (Qualified For Semis) 6:00 p.m. Nicole Ireland Semis - 400 hurdles 56.89 (Qualified For Finals) 8:15 p.m. 4x400 Relay Prelims - 4x400 relay 3:35.19 (Qualified For Finals)
Fri., June 13 Time Student-Athlete Event Result 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Leslie Miller Heptathlon - Day One 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Shanon Meyer Heptathlon - Day One 7:25 p.m. Nicole Ireland Finals - 400 hurdles 8:25 p.m. Tonette Dyer Semis - 400 meters
Sat., June 14 Time Student-Athlete Event Result 10 a.m.-2:40 p.m. Leslie Miller Heptathlon - Day Two 10 a.m.-2:40 p.m. Shanon Meyer Heptathlon - Day Two 7:20 p.m. Tonette Dyer Finals - 400 meters 9:20 p.m. 4x400 Finals - 4x400 relay