April 11, 2008
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The San Diego State track and field team battled through less-than-friendly conditions for most of the day until rain forced the cancellation of day one of the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville, Tenn. Despite the weather issues, the SDSU pole vaulters still had a banner day and multiple Aztecs recorded windy season or personal bests.
Stephanie Bagan cleared a personal-record 13 feet, 11.25 inches, to finish in a tie for second overall and first among all Division I athletes. With her performance, Bagan qualified for the Olympic Trials to be held in Eugene, Ore., on July 3.The sophomore was runner up to former Aztec Erin Asay, who vaulted 14-3.25. Bagan's height ranks as the top performance in the nation according to the NCAA descending order list released April 9, moves her to second all-time in program history and is her fifth regional qualifying performance in five tries this outdoor season.
Fellow pole vaulter Monica Pacas, meanwhile, logged a personal-record clearance of 13-3.50 to finish in a tie for fourth place and into fourth all-time at San Diego State. It marked the senior's sixth time she has qualified for the NCAA West Regionals this season.
In the 100-meter dash, senior Alicia Lowery finished in 10th with a windy personal-record time of 11.76, while freshman Jessika Hornsby came in 17th with a windy season-best time of 11.88. For Hornsby, it was her third straight meet in which she has posted a faster 100 time.
Another freshman, Briana Johnson, was the beneficiary of the wind as well as she ran a Section 6-best and SDSU season-best time of 14.41 in the 100-meter hurdles. Fellow hurdler Corri Campbell-Fell finished in eighth in the 400 hurdles after the crossing the finish line in 1:01.99.
Other Aztecs to compete on the first day of the meet were Kyanna Thomas (56.68) and Sherraine Pencil (57.13) in the 400, Kristin Glen in the 3,000 (10:59.74), Andrea Martinez in the hammer (153-2) and the discus (137-9) and Tamara McMillan in the hammer as well (139-9).
San Diego State is scheduled to return to the track tomorrow for the final day of the meet.