May 9, 2006
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU Track and Field Weekly Release in PDF Format
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SDSU TRACK AND FIELD HEADS TO UTAH THIS WEEK FOR MWC CHAMPIONSHIPS
* The San Diego State track and field squad looks to improve on its fourth-place finish from a year ago when it competes this week in the 2006 Mountain West Conference Outdoor Championships, May 10-13, in Provo, Utah. The Aztecs are expected to send 21 athletes to the four-day meet, which will take place at Clarence F. Robison Track on the campus of Brigham Young University.
The women's heptathlon and men's decathlon will be the only two events contested on the first two days, May 10-11. The heptathlon begins at noon on Wednesday and resumes at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday. Freshmen Kristin Olafsdottir and Corri Campbell-Fell are slated to represent the scarlet and black in the event, along with junior Kristin Karhio.
The bulk of the competition gets underway on Friday, featuring qualifying heats in the track events with the exception of the steeplechase and 10,000-meter run. Field events will include both trials and finals of the hammer throw, long jump, discus and log jump, starting at 11 a.m.
Saturday's schedule begins at 10 a.m. and concludes with the men's 4x400 relay at 3:05 p.m. An awards ceremony will cap off the week's activities at 3:30 p.m. All times are MDT.
In team competition, all nine conference schools will be represented on the women's side, while six squads comprise the men's championship. SDSU, UNLV and Utah do not sponsor men's track and field.
Clarence F. Robison Track was renovated in 2002 and now features a state-of-the-art Mondo X surface. The MWC Championships were also held at the facility in 2000, making it the first league venue to serve as a repeat host for the event.
MWC CHAMPIONSHIPS REDUX
* The MWC will crown individual as well as team champions at this week's meet. Eight places in each event will be counted in the final team score with points awarded in descending order as follows: 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1. Below is a look at how the Aztecs have fared in the six previous MWC Championships:
Year Place Score 2000 5th 80 pts. 2001 3rd 148 pts. 2002 3rd 119.33 pts. 2003 1st 217pts. 2004 2nd 160 pts. 2005 4th 88 pts.
SCALING NEW HEIGHTS
* SDSU will be competing at altitude for the first time during the outdoor campaign this year when it travels to the Beehive State. Provo is situated 4,553 feet above sea level. The Aztecs participated in three full meets at elevation during the indoor season, including the MWC Indoor Championships, Feb. 23-25, in Albuquerque, N.M.
Following the meet, SDSU will make a return trip to Provo in two weeks for the NCAA West Regional Championships, May 26-27.
GROWING UP FAST
* The Aztecs' heralded freshman class has paid huge dividends in 2006, with several newcomers ranking among the MWC's elite. Leading the way is Kristin Olafsdottir, who boasts the league's top score in heptathlon with 5,402 points. The Reykjavik, Iceland, native also ranks second in the 400 hurdles (1:00.10) and fourth in the 100 hurdles (14.10).
Another conference leader is Decontee Kaye, who possesses the top mark in the triple jump with a leap of 41-9.75. Her distance ties an 18-year-old school record set by Gaylen Ames in 1988.
Meanwhile, Leanne Taylor ranks second in the shot put (47-7) and fourth in the discus (164-0), providing a much-needed spark for SDSU's throwing corps.
Other Aztec freshmen who have made their way to the top of the MWC rankings include Shana Solomon in the 100 meters (third - 11.72), Nicole Stone in the 400 hurdles (fourth - 1:00.72) and Shana Watson in the long jump (third - 19-7) and triple jump (fourth - 39-11.50).
YES, BUT DON'T FORGET...
* In addition to the bevy of freshman talent, Aztec veteran Erin Asay will also figure prominently in SDSU's fortunes this week. The senior pole vaulter owns the MWC's top performance in 2006 with a clearance of 13-9.25, which equals her lifetime best. Asay's height is also ranked sixth in the nation and third in the West region.
Other Aztecs to watch include senior Larnie Boyd (400 meters), juniors Lisa Crampton and Celeste Tyson (steeplechase) as well as sophomores Sherraine Pencil (100, 200) and Mandy Upuu (800).
PACAS JOINS THE PACK
* Sophomore Monica Pacas added her name to SDSU's growing list of regional qualifiers when she cleared 12-5.50 in the pole vault at the UCSD Triton Invitational on April 22. Pacas' effort was a season best and tied her for fifth in the MWC.
FLASHBACK: 2005 MWC CHAMPIONSHIPS
* Shayla Balentine and Heather Heron captured first-place honors in the pole vault and 100-meter hurdles, respectively, leading the Aztecs to a fourth-place finish at the 2005 MWC Championships in Fort Collins, Colo. SDSU totaled 88 points, trailing Brigham Young (218 pts.), host Colorado State (171 pts.) and Wyoming (92.5 pts.)
Balentine surpassed her own meet record by 8.5 inches with a winning clearance of 13-10 in the pole vault. The previous standard was 13-1.50, which she set in 2002.
Heron emerged victorious in the 100 hurdles with a time of 13.31, and also took second in the 400 hurdles with a 59.06 clocking.
The Aztecs also received top-five performances from Nicole Carmier in the 800 (third - 2:10.28), Monica Pacas in the pole vault (third - 12-0.75), Janine Polischuk in the 400 hurdles (fifth - 1:01.19), Sherraine Pencil in the 100 (fifth - 12.20) and Christin Shibley in the pole vault (fifth - 11-8).
Meanwhile in relay competition, the 4x400-meter team of Carmier, Larnie Boyd, Heron and Brittani Dudley placed second with a season-best time of 3:43.39.