April 9, 2009
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State track and field team leaves the State of California for the first time of the 2009 outdoor season this week when it travels to Tennessee for the Sea Ray Relays in Knoxville, Tenn.
San Diego State is sending its top group to Knoxville to compete against some of the top talent in America at Tom Black Track on the campus of the University of Tennessee. Last season on the first day of action, Stephanie Bagan qualified for the Olympic Trials in the pole vault after posting a personal record. Fellow pole vaulter Monica Pacas, meanwhile, logged a PR as did Alicia Lowery and Jessika Hornsby in the 100 and Briana Johnson 100 hurdles.
During the meet's second day, Shana Solomon qualified for the NCAA West Regionals in the 100 and 200 and the 4x100 relay team qualified for the regional meet for a second time. Those to have recorded season bests included Sherraine Pencil (200), Lowery (200) and Kai Wheeler (long jump).
The Scarlet and Black go into the meet having come off a solid showing at the Pomona-Pitzer Track and Field Invitational last week, a meet that was supposed to be low-key.
Johnson won the 100 hurdles with a NCAA regional qualifying time of 13.87, just edging teammate Annimari Korte, who finished in second place with a regional qualifying effort of13.92.
A week after posting the top two times in NCAA Division I in the 400 meters, Nicole Stone participated in the 400 hurdles and came in second place with a time of 60.88. Her effort was just 0.06 shy of qualifying for regionals.
Several Aztecs recorded personal bests in their respective events, as Rachel Williams ran a 4:43.43 in the 1,500 to end up 13th and Darien Buc completed the 800 in 2:15.76 to take ninth. In the field events, Maria Rodriguez threw a personal best 150-6 in the hammer, while Danielle Lenore placed 19th in the discus with the best throw of her career at 129-5.
San Diego State also got top-three finishes from Katie Vo in the pole vault (3rd, 11-1.75), Kai Wheeler in the triple jump (2nd - 38-5.50), Sheehan Mitchell in the high jump (2nd, 5-3), Laura Boggeln in the shot put (3rd, 41-9.25) and Jeanette McConnell in the discus throw (3rd, 158-5).
Next week, the Aztecs will take part in the Mt. SAC relays in Azusa, Calif.