June 10, 2004
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State senior Tonette Dyer (Shreveport, La.) advanced to the finals of the 100 and 200 meters Thursday by placing in the top nine of the preliminaries at the 2004 NCAA Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas.
Dyer set the school record in the 100 meters for the second straight meet, winning her heat in 11.20 and logging the fourth-best effort of the day. Dyer beat her previous SDSU and Mountain West Conference record of 11.24 set at the NCAA regionals two weeks ago.
In the 200-meter race, Dyer logged the third-fastest qualifying time of 22.70 and easily placing first in her heat. Dyer's time is her sixth this season under the 23-second plateau.
Dyer later combined with sophomore Larnie Boyd (Vallejo, Calif.), junior Heather Heron (Yakima, Wash.) and senior Nicole Ireland (Las Vegas, Nev.) in the prelims of the 4x400 relay, logging the 12th-best time of the meet, but the team's fastest of the season and second best in school history of 3:33.84.
Also competing Thursday was Heron in the 100 hurdles, as she placed 20th in the prelims in 13.41.
Dyer will compete in the finals of the 100 meters on Friday, while the 200-meter finals take place on Saturday evening. Also in action Friday will be junior pole vaulter Shayla Balentine (Los Osos, Calif.) and Ireland in the 400 hurdles.
2004 NCAA Championships (June 9-12 - Austin, Texas)
Preliminaries only
100 Meters 1. Lauryn Williams 10.94 5. Tonette Dyer11.20 (SDSU, MWC record; advance to finals)
200 Meters 1. Muna Lee 22.40 3. Tonette Dyer 22.70 (wind-aided)
100 Hurdles 1. Priscilla Lopes 12.76 20. Heather Heron 13.41
4x400 Relay 1. Texas 3:25.58 12. SDSU (Larnie Boyd, Nicole Ireland, Tonette Dyer, Heather Heron) 3:33.84