Oct. 14, 2006
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - Celeste Tyson ran the fastest 5K of the season for San Diego State, the second-fastest time in the Mountain West Conference, and in the process established a lifetime best in leading the Aztecs to a seventh-place finish at the Santa Clara Invitational Saturday morning at Baylands Regional Park. The senior captain was eighth of 136 runners with a time of 17 minutes, 52 seconds and was one of five Aztecs to set a personal best at the meet.
Junior Meryl Follosco, who placed 32nd, completed the course in a lifetime best 18:31, just ahead of classmate Lisa Naucler. The junior from Ljusdal, Sweden, finished the race in 36th place with a season-best effort of 18:38.
The next two runners who crossed the finish line for the Aztecs registered personal bests with identical 18:48 times. Jackie Duncan and Jessica Mason finished 48th and 49th, respectively, and broke their career-low times that were set earlier this season at the Willamette Invitational in Salem, Ore.
Lital Azulay, who led San Diego State to the team championship in 2005, ran her best 5K of 2006 as she turned in a season-low effort of 18:57.
The fifth Aztec to set a personal best was Stephanie Armstrong with a clocking of 19:03. Her effort was nearly 14 seconds better than her previous best time of 19:16.95 established at Willamette.
Makenzie Mabry was the final Aztec to cross the finish line coming in 73rd place with a time of 19:18, falling just short of setting a new personal best.
SDSU will take next week off in preparation for the MWC Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah. The league meet is set for a 10:45 a.m. MT start on Saturday, Oct. 28.
Santa Clara Invitational (Baylands Regional Park; Sunnyvale, Calif.)
Team Results (top five and SDSU)
1. #1 Stanford - 68
2. San Francisco - 99
3. UC Davis - 110
4. CS Fullerton - 111
Santa Clara - 111
7. SAN DIEGO STATE - 163
Individual Results (SDSU only)
8. Celeste Tyson - 17:52
32. Meryl Follosco - 18:31
36. Lisa Naucler - 18:38
48. Jackie Duncan - 18:48
49. Jessica Mason - 18:48
52. Lital Azulay - 18:57
61. Stephanie Armstrong - 19:03
73. Makenzie Mabry - 19:18