March 28, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - The San Diego State track and field team completed a solid first day of competition at the Cal-Nevada Championships at Warmerdam Stadium in Fresno, Calif. In all, 30 Aztecs advanced to Saturday's finals in 13 different events.
In both the 100- and 200-meter dashes, SDSU advanced the same five athletes to finals. In the 100, Shana Solomon won her heat with a season-best time of 11.84, as did Decontee Kaye with her lifetime-best effort of 11.93 and Alicia King with her mark of 12.11. Alicia Lowery and Jessika Hornsby will join the aforementioned trio in the finals after they posted season-best times of 12.08 and 12.13, respectively.
In the 200, Kaye (24.31) and Lowery (24.68) each won their heats with lifetime-best performances and will be joined in the finals by teammates Solomon, Hornsby and King. In both races, SDSU owns five of the nine spots in the finals.
Kyanna Thomas, who competed at Grace M. Davis High School in Fresno last year, put forth a strong effort as she qualified for the 400-meter dash finals after crossing the finish line in a season-best 55.93. Also advancing to Saturday's finals in a running event was Mandy Upuu who will compete in the 800.
Kristin Olafsdottir enjoyed a banner day as she is set to compete in a trio of final competitions on Day 2. The junior won her heat in the 100-meter hurdles and subsequently advanced with a time of 14.50. In the 400 hurdles, Olafsdottir punched her ticket to Northridge, Calif., the site of the NCAA West Regionals, after she completed the race in 1:00.68 to advance to the final round. The trend of advancing continued for her in the high jump after she cleared a personal-best matching 5 feet, 5.00 inches.
In the pole vault, Dana Jensen, Monica Pacas, Stephanie Bagan, Christin Shibley and Joanna Burley all advanced to the finals, while Shana Watson and Kai Wheeler moved on in the long jump. Watson will also compete for the triple jump crown and will be joined by Kaye and Britney Bennett in the field.
In the finals of the throwing events, San Diego State will be represented by Michele Dannhausen and Andrea Martinez. Both will compete in the discus throw, while Dannhausen will be among those competing for the title in the javelin throw and Martinez in the hammer throw.
In the 5,000, four Aztecs set lifetime bests beginning with Kristin Glen. The junior completed the race in 17:53.34 and was followed by another classmate in Alyssa Robinson who logged a time of 18:31.71. Michelle Martinez and Makenzie Mabry rounded out the group with respective times of 18:45.98 and 18:54.88.
San Diego State will look to defend its Cal-Nevada Championships team title tomorrow beginning with the finals of the hammer set for 11:30 a.m. PDT.