June 9, 2005
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - San Diego State senior Shayla Balentine (Los Osos, Calif.) advanced to the pole vault finals Thursday at the 2005 NCAA Track & Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif.
Balentine, who came into the meet as the second-ranked pole vaulter in the nation, cleared 13 feet, 5 1/4 inches to qualify for Saturday's final, where the top eight will receive All-American accolades. The final is slated for 6 p.m.
A four-time Mountain West Conference champion in the pole vault, Balentine is the MWC and SDSU record-holder in the event with a personal-best jump of 14-0 1/2. The record leap is also the eighth-best outdoor mark posted in the United States and the 25th-best vault in the world this season.
Classmate Heather Heron (Yakima, Wash.) will look to earn her first All-American certificate Friday night, when she competes in the 100-meter hurdles final at 8:05 p.m.
2005 NCAA Championships
June 8-11
Sacramento, Calif. -- Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex
SDSU Results Only
Pole Vault
*Qualifying Round
Shayla Balentine - 13 - 5 ¼ (advances to final)