April 12, 2008
Sea Ray Relays Complete Results | Boston-Moon Track and Field Classic Complete Results
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - San Diego State junior Shana Solomon secured a spot at May's NCAA West Regionals in the 100- and 200-meter dash on the final day of the Sea Ray Relays at Tom Black Track on the campus of the University of Tennessee. In addition, Solomon ran a leg on the 4x100-meter relay team that posted SDSU's top time of the season and recorded their second regional-qualifying mark of the outdoor campaign.
In the 100, Solomon finished first in her heat with a personal-record time of 11.49 seconds, but second overall to Charlotte's Courtney Patterson (11.47). Patterson, however, finished ahead of Solomon with the help of a wind reading of 3.6, while Solomon competed with virtually no wind at all (1.6). Nevertheless, the Long Beach, Calif., native became the first Aztec of the season to punch her ticket to the regional meet in the event.
Later in the day, Solomon duplicated her effort in the 100 by becoming the first SDSU athlete of the season to qualify for regionals in the 200. The junior came in sixth place with a time of 23.63 and was followed by senior Sherraine Pencil's season-best effort of 24.32. Alicia Lowery also posted a season-best time in the event after crossing the finish line in 24.40.
In the relays, both San Diego State teams enjoyed solid efforts on the final day in the Volunteer State as the 4x100 squad finished in third place with a regional time of 45.52, while the 4x400 team finished with a season best. The 4x100 quartet of Alicia King, Solomon, Jessika Hornsby and Lowery qualified for the West Region meet for a second time and put forth the program's top performance of the outdoor season. Meanwhile, the 4x400 group of Kyanna Thomas, Pencil, Mandy Upuu and Hornsby completed the race in 3:43.85 and came in seventh place overall.
In the jumping events, SDSU was represented by Shana Watson and Kai Wheeler. Watson finished in 10th place in the triple jump (39-6.50) and 21st in the long jump (18-8.50) and Wheeler completed the meet with a windy season-best leap in the triple jump (37-3.75; 24th) and a long jump of 18-4.25 (t-26th).
In other Aztec track and field news, the SDSU pole vaulters and throwers traveled to Nashville for the Boston-Moon Classic at Tennessee State on Saturday and won two events.
Andrea Martinez won the hammer throw with a winning toss of 159-7 and was followed by Tamara McMillan's runner-up throw of 147-11. In the pole vault, Monica Pacas was the top performer after she cleared 13-0.25, while Christin Shibley finished in second place with a leap of 12-0.00.
The Aztecs also had two more runner-up performances in the javelin and discus. Michele Dannhausen came in second in the javelin with a throw of 122-9 and Martinez logged the second-best discus throw with a distance of 141-11.
The Aztecs return to action beginning on Wednesday, April 16, when the Mt. SAC Heptathlon in Azusa, Calif., is set to begin.