Feb. 2, 2008
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The San Diego State track and field team wrapped up a successful first meet on Saturday at the Mountain T's Invitational in Flagstaff, Ariz. SDSU triple jumpers Decontee Kaye and Karoline Koehler finished first and second, respectively, as they both provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships held in March.
A 2007 outdoor All-America selection in the triple jump, Kaye, a junior, won the event in her first competition of 2008 with a leap of 41-9.75. Fellow 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championship participant Koehler finished right behind Kaye with a runner-up effort of 41-8.75.
Senior team captain Sherraine Pencil enjoyed a productive day as she set personal indoor records in the 200- and 400-meter dash. The Toronto, Canada, native finished second overall and first among collegiate runners in the 200 with a time of 24.46. Pencil came in second place to former Aztec Melinda Smedley, who completed the race in 24.22. In the 400, Pencil crossed the finish line 55.35 to finish third overall.
Sophomore Darien Buc joined Kaye as an event champion as she won the one-mile run invitational with a time of 5:39.48.
In the pole vault, both sophomore Stephanie Bagan and senior Monica Pacas cleared 12-7.50 to finish third and fifth, respectively. Senior Christin Shibley, meanwhile, established an indoor personal record with a performance of 12-1.50. Former Aztec Erin Asay walked away with the title after she vaulted 14-1.25.
In the 800-meter run, senior Mandy Upuu started where she left off last season finishing in second place with a time of 2:13.44, which was a better time than she recorded a year ago. Upuu just barely missed taking first place crossing the finish line 0:00.02 behind Nikki Codd of Northern Arizona.
In throwing events, SDSU newcomer Andrea Martinez set personal records in both the shot put and the weight throw. The junior posted a shot put distance of 40-4.75 to finish in seventh place and recorded an effort of 49-10.00 in the weight throw (fifth place).
In the running events, Kaye and Koehler enjoyed success as well. Kaye established a personal record in the 60 (7.65) and the 200 (25.11), while Koehler clocked in with a 200 PR of 25.07 and just missed a personal best by 0:00.01 in the 60 with a time of 7.55. Koehler also came in second in the long jump (19-5.50), while Kaye came in fourth (19-0.00).
Overall, in an event where there was no team scoring, San Diego State had a number of competitors finish ahead of athletes from 2007 outdoor champion Arizona State.
SDSU returns to action next Friday, Feb. 8, when it competes at the Bronco Invitational in Nampa, Idaho.