April 8, 2010
LOS ANGELES - Freshman Kiersten Kirkland finished day one of the heptathlon in second place to lead the San Diego State track and field team at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational Thursday on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles.
Competing in her first-ever collegiate heptathlon, Kirkland finished day one of the seven-event competition with 2,996 points, just 50 behind UCLA's Ryan Krais (3,046 pts). Krais and Kirkland, who are among 13 competitors, are followed by Naima Goodwin of Sacramento State (2,985), Sara Klein of Cal Poly (2,831) and unattached performer Shianne Smith (2,810).
In the first event, Kirkland took second in the 100-meter hurdles with a collegiate-best time of 14.34 seconds. The 14.34 bettered Kirkland's previous best by 0.18 seconds and earned her 931 points, her most in any event.
Event No. 2 saw Kirkland clear 5 feet, ¼ inches in the high jump, just off her season-best mark of 5-01.00. The jump tied for the ninth-best in the event for 655 points.
Kirkland finished seventh in the shot put with a toss of 33-06.75 to grab another 545 points.
Kirkland wrapped up day one in the 200, where she won her heat and finished second overall in 25.24. The clocking was the fifth-fastest by an Aztec this season in her first time running it all of 2010 (including indoor). The 25.24 was good enough for 865 points.
Day two of the heptathlon begins with the long jump at 10 a.m. Friday.
Meanwhile, SDSU had two athletes compete in the open hammer throw. Jeanette McConnell took sixth of 12 with a heave of 156-07, while Robyn Guzman was 11th with a toss of 136-01.
San Diego State continues its competition in the three-day meet tomorrow (Friday).
Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational
Day 1 - April 8, 2010
SDSU Individual Results Heptathlon (Through Four Events): 2. Kiersten Kirkland - 2,996 pts.
Hammer Throw Open: 6. Jeanette McConnell - 156-07; 11. Robyn Guzman - 136-01.