June 11, 2005
SACRAMENTO - San Diego State senior Shayla Balentine (Los Osos, Calif.) earned her first career All-America honor after placing second in the pole vault with a career-best effort of 14 feet, 1 1/4 inches Saturday at the 2005 NCAA Track & Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif. The Aztecs finished 29th overall with nine points, despite only having two athletes compete in the meet.
Balentine and three other athletes each vaulted 14-1 1/4, but Balentine was awarded second place based on prior misses at the lower bars. The 14-1 1/4 mark bettered her previous Mountain West Conference and Aztec record by 3/4 inch.
"All you can do is ask for a PR (personal record) in your final collegiate meet," said assistant coach Rich Fox of Balentine. "She has worked so hard this year and I am thrilled for her."
Balentine's runner-up finish is the best placing by an SDSU athlete since LaTanya Sheffield (400 hurdles) and Laura DeSnoo (discus) each were national champions in their respective events in 1985. She is also the 21st All-American in SDSU history and the 14th during Rahn Sheffield's 14-year tenure as head coach.
For complete results from the 2005 NCAA Track and Field Championships, visit www.ncaasports.com.
2005 NCAA Championships
June 8-11
Sacramento, Calif. -- Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex
Team Results
1. Texas, 55
2. UCLA, 48
2. South Carolina, 48
4. Tennessee, 40
5. Stanford, 29
29. San Diego State, 9
Pole Vault Final
1. Kate Soma SR Washington 14-01.25 10
2. Shayla Balentine SR San Diego State 14-01.25 8
3. Amy Linnen SR Kansas 14-01.25 6
4. Breanna Eveland JR Kansas State 14-01.25 5
5. Jackie Rodgers JR Kent State 13-09.25 4
6. Carly Dockendorf JR Washington 13-09.25 3
7. Tamara Diles JR Washington State 13-05.25 1
7. Ekaterina Sultanova FR Kansas 13-05.25 1
7. Stacie Manuel SO Arkansas 13-05.25 1
10. Michelle Rzepka JR Michigan State 13-05.25
11. Sarah Landau FR Miami-Ohio 13-05.25
12. Cheryl Terrio JR South Carolina 13-01.50
13. Amanda Storck SR Central Michigan 12-09.50
-- Jennifer Bennett SR Missouri NH