April 10, 2004
SAN DIEGO - In what has already been a record-setting senior campaign, San Diego State track and field's Tonette Dyer (Shreveport, La.) posted the second-fastest time in the world in 2004, winning the 200 meters in 22.96 Saturday at the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville, Tenn.
Dyer became the first Aztec to ever complete the 200 meters in under 23 seconds, obliterating the previous school record of 23.32, set by former teammate Melinda Smedley in 2002. Dyer's time of 22.96 was a career best (non-wind-aided) by 0.40 seconds and is also a Mountain West Conference record, beating UNLV's Michele Davis' effort of 23.00 in 2002.
Dyer now ranks second in the world in 2004, trailing only Jamaica's Simone Facey (22.71). Her time is the fastest by an American this year (prev. 23.04 - NC Elite's Crystal Cox), the best by a collegian and meets the `B' qualifying standard for this summer's U.S. Olympic Trials.
The 200 meters wasn't the only event for Dyer on Saturday, as she placed second in the 100 meters with time of 11.51 and ran the second leg on the team's 4x100 relay, which logged the school's eighth-best time ever of 45.22.
Other Aztecs competing in final day action at the Sea Ray Relays included senior Candace Hill (San Diego, Calif.), who finished fifth in the shot put with a throw of 49-02.50, and the distance medley relay of Jamillah Titus (American Canyon, Calif.), Bianca McNair (Portland, Ore.), Larnie Boyd (Vallejo, Calif.) and Marie Nilsson (Kil, Sweden), which took fourth in 11.45.80.
SDSU makes its annual trip to the Mt. SAC Relays and Heptathlon, beginning Wed., April 14 and running through Sun., April 18.
2004 Sea Ray Relays - Final Day Action
Tom Black Track - Knoxville, Tenn.
SDSU Results
100 Meters
2. Tonette Dyer 11.51^
200 Meters
1. Tonette Dyer 22.96^
(No. 2 in world, No. 1 by an American in 2004; No. 1 in nation (collegiate) in 2004;
SDSU, Mountain West Conference record)
Shot Put
5. Candace Hill 49-02.50^
4x100
6. SDSU (Givens/Dyer/Heron/Ireland)
45.22^ (Tied for 8th in school history)
Distance Medley Relay
4. SDSU (Titus/McNair/Boyd/Nilsson)
11:45.80 (No. 3 in school history)
^ = NCAA regional qualifying time/mark