June 11, 2004
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State senior Tonette Dyer (Shreveport, La.) earned All-America honors with her fifth-place finish in the finals of the 100 meters at the 2004 NCAA Track & Field Championships Friday in Austin, Texas. Dyer was barely edged out at the finish line for fourth place by Arkansas' LaShaunte'a Moore, as both logged times of 11.31.
Dyer's All-America honor is her third of her career, after earning the distinction in 2003, as a member of SDSU's eighth place 4x400 relay, and in 2002, with her ninth place in the 400 meters. She is now one of just three Aztecs to earn All-America honors three times or more in their SDSU careers, joining Carrie McLaughlin (1981-83) and Laura DeSnoo (1982, 84-86).
After weather cancelled Wednesday's qualifying round of the pole vault, Aztec junior Shayla Balentine (Los Osos, Calif.) was unable to record a height Friday, failing in three attempts to clear 12-03.50. The NCAA appearance was the second of Balentine's career, after taking 17th as a freshman in 2002.
Senior Nicole Ireland (Las Vegas, Nev.), meanwhile, came up two spots short in qualifying for the finals of the 400 hurdles. Ireland logged the 11th-best preliminary time of 57.96 and was third in her heat.
Ireland was also two spots out of earning All-America honors in the 400 hurdles for the fourth straight year (All-America honors given to top eight Americans in each event). Ireland came in fourth in the event a year ago, after representing the University of Alabama with 10th and 11th-place finishes from 2001-02.
As a team, San Diego State currently stands in a tie for 29th place with four points, while Nebraska currently leads the championships with 38 points.
The 2004 NCAA Track & Field Championships conclude Saturday with Dyer competing in the 200-meter finals at 8:15 p.m. CDT.
2004 NCAA Championships (June 9-12 - Austin, Texas)
100-Meter - Finals 1. Lauryn Williams, Miami 10.97 5. Tonette Dyer, SDSU 11.31 (All-America honors)
Women's Pole Vault - Finals 1. Chelsea Johnson, UCLA 14-01.25 -. Shayla Balentine, SDSU no height
400-Meter Hurdles - Prelims 1. Raasin McIntosh, Texas 55.39 11. Nicole Ireland, SDSU 57.96
Team Scores Through Friday's events 1. Nebraska 38 pts. 29. San Diego State 4 pts.