Jan. 30, 2009
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The San Diego State women's track and field team made its 2009 debut at the Mountain T's Invitational at Northern Arizona's LJ Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff, Ariz., on Friday. The Aztec freshmen made their presence felt in the multi-events, while other SDSU student-athletes turned in solid performances across the board.
The day started off with the pentathlon and SDSU won three of the five events. In the 800-meter run, Kelsey Kaster crossed the finish line first with a time of 2 minutes, 41.35 seconds and was followed in second place by fellow freshman Sheehan Mitchell (2:41.39). Classmate Julianne Alarcio came in fifth with a time of 2:53.22.
Mitchell also posted a victory in the high jump after clearing 5 feet, 1.25 inches, while senior Shana Watson recorded a third-place effort after leaping 4-9.75. Alarcio finished in fifth (4-7.50) and Kaster logged a seventh-place clearance of 4-6.25.
Watson followed up her top-3 high jump performance with a first-place long jump effort of 18-1.75. The senior leaped 1.50 inches further than Alarcio, who finished in second with a jump of 18-0.25. Mitchell ended the competition in sixth (14-10.50) and Kaster came in ninth (12-8.00).
In the two events in which SDSU did not emerge victorious, the 60-meter dash and shot put, San Diego State turned in respectable performances. In the 60, Watson finished in second with a time of 9.52 and Alarcio came in third at 9.95. Mitchell was not far behind as she clocked in at 10.24, while Kaster completed the race in 13.07. In the shot put, Watson let her experience show as she posted another runner-up effort after a toss of 33-10.00. Alarcio finished fourth (26-3.50), Kaster in fifth (26-3.50) and Mitchell rounded out the Aztec contingent with a distance of 24-3.50.
When the dust settled, Alarcio finished her first collegiate pentathlon in second place with 2,848 points and was followed by Mitchell in third (2,711). Kaster came in sixth with 1,971 points and Watson did not finish the competition.
In the shot put, Andrea Martinez recorded a toss of 38-11.00, while Robyn Guzman notched a distance of 36-10.25. Freshman Eshaunna Robinson, who was competing for the first time as an Aztec, finished with an effort of 29-1.25.
Junior newcomer Maria Rodriguez made a good first impression with a weight throw mark of 45-2.00. Guzman, meanwhile, posted SDSU's second-best performance with a toss of 43-0.00, while Robinson and Laura Boggeln recorded distances of 39-0.00.
In the final event of the day for San Diego State, the long jump open, Amber Waddell leaped 16-6.00 and Thoraya Maronsey turned in a mark of 16-3.00.
The Aztecs return to the track tomorrow beginning with the shot put invitational at 9 a.m. MT.