Sept. 19, 2006
SAN DIEGO -
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Aztecs to Travel to Upper Midwest for Roy Griak Invitational
San Diego State will compete in its first meet outside the state of California when it travels to Falcon Heights, Minn., Saturday, Sept. 23, for the 21st Annual Roy Griak Invitational. SDSU is coming off a fifth-place finish at their own Aztec Invitational last weekend and will look to improve on several marks that were among the team's best of the season.
The 6K race will take place at the University of Minnesota's Les Bolstad Golf Course, where rolling hills and grassy terrain will greet runners. This weekend's invitational will mark the first 6K race of the season for SDSU. Among the team's scheduled to compete are No. 9 Arizona State, No. 13 Baylor, No. 16 Minnesota, No. 18 Marquette, No. 23 Michigan State and No. 26 Virginia (all rankings are from the USTFCCCA poll released Sept. 12). Other teams slated to appear who received votes in the poll include Northern Arizona, Rice, UCLA and UC Santa Barbara.
Upperclass Leading By Example
Through two races, nine of San Diego State's 10 runners who earned points have been members of the upperclass. At the Fullerton Season Opener (Sept. 2), Meryl Follosco (Jr.), Celeste Tyson (Sr.), Lisa Naucler (Jr.), Jackie Duncan (Sr.) and Sara Cates (Sr.) were SDSU's top-5 finishers helping the Aztecs to a fourth-place showing. Last week at the Aztec Invitational, SDSU was led by Tyson, Follosco, Cates, Naucler and freshman Jessica Mason. A year ago, seven of the Aztecs' 10 point earners were upperclassmen.
Freshmen Coming Along
The San Diego State roster contains seven true freshmen and all have shown they have a bright future on Montezuma Mesa after running in their first meet at the Fullerton Season Opener. With six freshmen running in the Aztec Invitational over the weekend, five (Stephanie Armstrong, Lindsay Barajas, Darien Buc, Makenzie Mabry, Jessica Mason) established new Aztec career bests during the 5K race heading into the Griak Invite.
Deadly Duo
Celeste Tyson and Meryl Follosco have been staples at the top of SDSU's results list so far this season as they have finished one-two in each of the Aztecs' first two races. Follosco, a junior college transfer, impressed in her first meet as she finished 16th at the Fullerton Season Opener to garner Mountain West Conference athlete of the week honors, while Tyson finished with the second-fastest SDSU time. Last week at the Aztec Invitational, Tyson, a senior, returned the favor as she became San Diego State's top runner with Follosco crossing the finish line right behind her.
A Look Back at Meet No. 2: 62nd Annual Aztec Invitational
San Diego State played host to its only home meet of the season, the Aztec Invitational, and registered a fifth-place finish with 139 points at Balboa Park. Arkansas won its second straight invitational title with 20 points, followed by Long Beach State (60 pts.), Loyola Marymount (80 pts.), CS Fullerton (129 pts.) and the Aztecs.
Celeste Tyson paced SDSU, finishing 20th with a season-best time of 18:58. Her 5K-clocking surpasses Meryl Follosco's effort in the Fullerton Season Opener for the top Aztec time in 2006.
Speaking of Follosco, the junior crossed the finish line in 19:17, good for 26th place, while Sara Cates (19:45) and Lisa Naucler (19:49), turned 34th- and 36th-place performances, respectively. Both Cates and Naucler put forth season-best efforts.
The SDSU freshmen class also had an impressive showing as Jessica Mason (53rd - 20:15), Stephanie Armstrong (62nd - 20:30), Makenzie Mabry (70th - 20:37) and Lindsay Barajas (74th - 20:47), all established collegiate personal bests.
Lital Azulay set a season-low time of 20:17 (54th), while Jackie Duncan finished the course in 20:47 (73rd) and Jessica Walker completed the race in 21:12 to place 80th.
In the women's open race, Darien Buc was the top SDSU runner, finishing the 5K in a personal-best time of 21:16 (46th). Other Aztecs to compete in the open were Amanda Maydeck (season-best 21:44) and Anne Vieira (22:15), who placed 62nd and 74th, respectively.
2006 Aztec Invitational Results (Invitational Division)
FINAL TEAM RESULTS: 1. Arkansas, 20; 2. Long Beach State, 60; 3. Loyola Marymount, 80; 4. CS Fullerton `A', 129; 5. San Diego State, 139; 6. Southern California, 168; 7. CS San Marcos, 193; 8. Ft. Lewis College, 232; CS Northridge, 250; 10. Saint Mary's, 286; 11. CS Fullerton `B', 300; 12. UNLV, 360.
AZTEC INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: Invitational - 20. Celeste Tyson, 18:58; 26. Meryl Follosco, 19:17; 34. Sara Cates, 19:45; 36. Lisa Naucler, 19:49; 53. Jessica Mason, 20:15; 54. Lital Azulay, 20:17; 62. Stephanie Armstrong, 20:30; 70. Makenzie Mabry, 20:37; 73. Jackie Duncan, 20:47; 74. Lindsay Barajas, 20:47; 80. Jessica Walker, 21:12. Open - 46. Darien Buc, 21:16; 62. Amanda Maydeck, 21:44; 74. Anne Vieira, 22:15.