Sept. 30, 2006
SALEM, Ore. - Celeste Tyson, who established an Aztec career best and turned in the team's fastest 5K time of the season, led San Diego State to a seventh-place finish at the 19-team Willamette Invitational at Bush Park in Salem, Ore., Saturday morning. Tyson, who completed the race in 17:54.95, was one of four Aztecs to set an SDSU personal best, while three others put forth season-best efforts.
Tyson, a senior from Austin, Texas, was the Aztecs top runner for a third straight week and in the process, posted her best finish of the season as she placed ninth of 180 runners.
Meryl Follosco, similar to Tyson, finished second among SDSU competitors for the third consecutive week, placed 39th with an Aztec personal-best time of 18:34.20.
Joining Tyson and Follosco in setting Aztec career bests were freshmen Jessica Mason and Stephanie Armstrong. Mason, who finished with the team's third-fastest time for the second week in a row, crossed the finish line in 18:57.55 (57th place), just over one minute faster than her previous best at the Aztec Invitational. Armstrong, meanwhile ran the 5K in 19:16.95 (73rd), surpassing her top time of 20:30.00 accomplished Sept. 16.
Lisa Naucler, Lital Azulay and Jackie Duncan also completed the race, each establishing season-low times. Naucler finished the meet in 19:10.30, good for 65th place, while Azulay (80th) and Duncan (90th), registered times of 19:29.55 and 19:42.40, respectively.
With the San Diego State `A' team competing in Oregon, the SDSU `B' traveled to Riverside, Calif., for the UC Riverside Invitational. The six-member squad also had a successful day as they all turned in Aztec career bests or season-low performances en route to a 12th place effort.
Makenzie Mabry enjoyed her best day as an Aztec as she finished the race in 19:11.00 (41st), shaving 1:26 off her previous top time.
Mabry's fellow classmates, freshmen Jessica Walker, Lindsay Barajas and Darien Buc also set their fastest times as collegians. Walker turned in a 19:44.90-performance to come in 71st place with Barajas (19:56.40 - 82nd) and Buc (20:33.30 - 125th) following behind.
Amanda Maydeck (20:49.70 - 137th) and Anne Vieira (21:20.60) - 152nd) also had solid performances as each of them posted their fastest times of the season.
San Diego State will be back in action Saturday, Oct. 7, as it competes in the UC San Diego Invitational in La Jolla, Calif. The meet is scheduled for a 9:30 a.m. PT start.
Willamette Invitational
(Bush Park; Salem Ore.)
Team Finish (top five and SDSU)
1. Oregon State - 40
2. Boise State - 120
3. Idaho - 121
4. Portland State - 136
5. San Francisco - 139
7. SAN DIEGO STATE - 184
Individual Finish (SDSU only)
9. Celeste Tyson - 17:54.95
39. Meryl Follosco - 18:34.20
57. Jessica Mason - 18:57.55
65. Lisa Naucler - 19:10.30
73. Stephanie Armstrong - 19:16.95
80. Lital Azulay - 19:29.55
90. Jackie Duncan - 19:42.40
UC Riverside Invitational
(UCR Agricultural Operations Course; Riverside, Calif.)
Team Finish (top five and SDSU)
1. UC Riverside - 19
2. Pepperdine - 115
3. CS San Marcos - 117
4. Cal Poly Pomona - 149
5. Southern Utah - 181
12. SAN DIEGO STATE - 331
Individual Finish (SDSU only)
41. Makenzie Mabry - 19:11.00
71. Jessica Walker - 19:44.90
82. Lindsay Barajas - 19:56.40
125. Darien Buc - 20:33.30
137. Amanda Maydeck - 20:49.70
152. Anne Vieira - 21:20.60