April 8, 2006
SAN DIEGO - Junior Lisa Crampton ran an NCAA regional qualifying time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to lead the San Diego State track and field squad on Saturday at the 19th Annual Duke Invitational in Durham, N.C. The Aztecs also received a first-place performance from freshman Leanne Taylor in the discus on the final day of competition at Duke University's Wallace Wade Stadium.
"We had a fairly decent weekend," said SDSU assistant coach Jennifer Nanista. "We went up against some pretty good competition and hopefully that will pay dividends later in the season and at regionals."
Crampton finished third in a field of 41 athletes in the steeplechase with a lifetime-best time of 10:42.11, which ranks second on the school's all-time list and shatters her previous best by over 16 seconds. With her effort, the Livermore, Calif., native becomes the seventh Aztec this season to qualify individually for the NCAA regional meet.
Another bright spot on the day for the scarlet and black was Taylor's first-place finish out of 44 competitors in the discus. After claiming the title with a toss of 152-9, the Porterville, Calif., product also turned in a second-place performance of 45-2.25 in the shot put. SDSU's vastly-improved throwing corps also got a season-best effort from freshman Brittany Lowe in the discus with a mark of 139-4.
Rounding out the highlights from Saturday was a third-place finish (46.86) by the 4x100 relay team, consisting of senior Larnie Boyd, freshmen Shana Solomon and Kristin Olafsdottir and sophomore Sherraine Pencil, while Boyd placed fourth in the 400 with a 55.45 clocking.
The Aztecs return to the Golden State next week to compete in the 48th running of the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays April 12-15. The heptathlon portion of the meet gets underway on Wednesday in Azusa, Calif., while remainder of the competition begins Thursday in Walnut, Calif.