March 31, 2007
FRESNO, Calif. - The San Diego State track and field squad finished in first place ahead of defending champion UCLA, at the Cal-Nevada Championships in Fresno, Calif. The Aztecs earned 166 points and were followed by the Bruins (147), UC Santa Barbara (79.33), Fresno State (79) and Cal State Fullerton (67.33) in a field of 22 schools from the Golden and Silver States.
The team championship is the fourth for SDSU since the 2001 season, but the fourth in five seasons in which it has competed in the annual event. The Aztecs won titles in 2001, 2003 and 2004, but were not a part of the field since the '04 campaign. Coincidently, head coach Rahn Sheffield was named Coach of the Meet in each of the championship seasons, including this year.
Besides winning the team title and Sheffield being named the meet's top coach, Karoline Koehler stole the show as she established a school record in the triple jump. The Mountain West Conference Athlete of the Week leaped an NCAA regional qualifying mark of 41 feet, 11.50 inches and broke teammate Decontee Kaye's record of 41-9.75 set last season. Her effort gave her the event title, while Shana Watson (41-0.50) and Kaye (40-7.75) put forth regional meet performances in finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
In the finals of the 100, the Aztecs finished 1-2-3 with Shana Solomon leading the way with a season-best time of 11.77, just .02 seconds removed from qualifying for the West regionals. Rounding out the top three were Koehler's 11.83 and Sherraine Pencil's 11.84 performance.
The 200 final was somewhat similar to the 100 in that the Aztecs placed a pair of athletes in the top two. Pencil punched her ticket to the regional meet with a first-place effort of 23.92, with Solomon coming in a close second at 23.97 (season best). Solomon just missed qualifying for regionals by .01 seconds.
In the middle-distance events, the Scarlet and Black turned respectable performances as Mandy Upuu (2:11.48) and Lisa Naucler (2:12.40) finished third and fourth, respectively, while Jackie Duncan came in ninth at 2:17.43. Later in the 1,500, Naucler set a new lifetime best as she completed the race in 4:33.13, good for second place.
In the 100 hurdles, Kristin Olafsdottir established a season best as she crossed the finish line in 14.19 and followed it with a runner-up performance in the 400 hurdles with a time of 61.43. Teammate Corri Campbell-Fell finished right behind her at 62.15 while coming in third.
Another Aztec who notched a runner-up effort was Celeste Tyson. The senior from Texas completed the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 11:11.22 earning eight points toward SDSU's total score and posting a season-best effort in the process.
In the 4x100 relay, San Diego State appears to be hitting its stride as the Aztecs recorded a regional qualifying time for a third straight week. This time the quartet added a new runner to the mix in Alicia Lowery and they came in first place with a time of 45.61, ahead of Cal State Fullerton and UCLA.
In the pole vault, Stephanie Bagan finished in a tie for second after vaulting a season best and NCAA regional mark of 12-9.50. Teammate Dana Van Wagner tied for fourth with four other competitors after clearing 12-5.50 (regional qualifying mark).
Rounding out the field events for San Diego State was the long jump. Koehler finished second after jumping 19-6.25 and Watson ended the competition in fifth place with an effort of 18-10.75.
The Aztecs return to action Wednesday, April 4, when they travel to the Lone Star State to compete in the Texas Relays.
Cal-Nevada Championships
Final Team Standings (Top 5 in a field of 22)
1. San Diego State - 166 points
2. UCLA - 147
3. UC Santa Barbara - 79.33
4. Fresno State - 79
5. Cal State Fullerton - 67.33