May 4, 2008
IRVINE, Calif. - Paced by senior Mandy Upuu's regional-qualifying effort in the 800-meter run, the San Diego State track and field squad closed out its regular-season schedule in strong fashion on Sunday as six Aztec competitors set season bests in seven events during the final day of the Asics/Steve Scott Invitational on the campus of UC Irvine. Upuu punched her ticket to the NCAA West Regionals with a time of 2 minutes, 9.55 seconds to finish the race in third place.
SDSU also received a third-place performance in the 400-meter hurdles from junior Kristin Olafsdottir, who improved on her regional-qualifying time after crossing the finish line with a season-best clocking of 1:00.08. In addition, the Reykjavik, Iceland, native posted her fastest time this season in the 100-meter hurdles at 14.20 to finish in sixth, just behind freshman Briana Johnson, who placed fourth with a time of 14.08. Meanwhile, junior Shana Watson wound up in 15th after turning in a career-best effort of 14.96.
Two other Aztec runners recorded season-best times on Sunday as freshman Jessika Hornsby took fifth in the 200-meter dash with a 24.12 clocking, while classmate Andrea Norton crossed the finish line at 4:58.40 in the 1,500-meter run.
Both of SDSU's relay teams posted regional-qualifying times in the 4x100 race. The quartet of Alicia King, Hornsby, Kyanna Thomas and Watson came away with a fourth-place finish after running a 45.63, nosing out the Aztec foursome of Sherraine Pencil, Shana Solomon, Alicia Lowery and Decontee Kaye, who placed fifth with a time of 45.65.
In the field events, the Scarlet and Black had a solid showing in the pole vault, placing four entrants in the top 10. Leading the group was sophomore Stephanie Bagan, who cleared another regional-qualifying height at 13 feet, 7.25 inches to finish in the runner-up spot. Senior Monica Pacas came in sixth with a vault of 12-7.50, while senior Christin Shibley and sophomore Dana Jensen tied for seventh at 12-1.50.
Two Aztecs added another pair of regional-qualifying marks in the triple jump, led by Kaye, who finished in sixth with a leap of 40-11.00, just ahead of Watson, who managed a distance of 40-6.25. Freshman Britney Bennett also set a season best in the event with a jump of 37-5.25.
SDSU also collected a pair of top-10 finishes in the throwing events as junior transfer Tamara McMillan placed eighth in the shot put with a toss of 41-9.75, while classmate Michele Dannhausen came in 10th in the discus throw with a hurl of 146-2.
The Aztecs will have the next 10 days off before returning to action at the Mountain West Conference Outdoor Championships, May 14-17, on the campus of TCU in Fort Worth, Texas.