April 22, 2006
LA JOLLA, Calif. - The San Diego State track and field squad continued its impressive campaign on Saturday as junior Celeste Tyson, sophomore Monica Pacas and freshman Leanne Taylor each surpassed NCAA regional qualifying standards at the UCSD Triton Invitational in La Jolla, Calif. The day was also highlighted by six top-three finishes for the Aztecs, including a first-place effort from freshman Decontee Kaye in the triple jump.
"Overall, I was very pleased with our results today, said SDSU assistant coach Jennifer Nanista. "We rested a few people for this meet, but those who competed continue to show improvement, and that's very encouraging."
Tyson punched her ticket to the regional meet after placing third in the steeplechase with a qualifying time of 10:48.32, which now ranks third on the Aztecs' all-time list. Pacas also added her name to SDSU's growing list of regional qualifiers when she cleared a season-best 12-5.50 in the pole vault.
Taylor qualified for her second event of the season after posting a personal-best throw of 47-7 in the shot put. The Porterville, Calif., native also improved on her regional mark in the discus with a toss of 164-0, setting a personal best in the event for the second week in a row.
Kaye, meanwhile, claimed her second victory of the season in the triple jump with a leap of 40-7, followed closely by fellow classmate Shana Watson, who placed second with a distance of 39-10.50.
Senior Erin Asay also logged a runner-up finish on the day with a clearance of 13-9.25 in the pole vault, which tied a lifetime best and ranks second in school history. With her performance, Asay bettered her NCAA qualifying mark from last week by seven inches.
Rounding out Saturday's highlights were a pair of third-place finishes from junior Lisa Crampton, who notched a season-best time of 4:35.08 in the 1,500 and freshman Shana Solomon in the 100 (11.97).
SDSU returns to action next weekend when it competes in the Steve Scott Invitational on Saturday, April 29, in Irvine, Calif. The meet is scheduled to get underway at 9:30 a.m.