Jan. 29, 2011
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Freshman Shanieka Thomas took second in the triple jump to lead the San Diego State track and field team Saturday on the final day of the UNM Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M.
Thomas, who yesterday made her collegiate debut with the fourth-best indoor high jump in school history, finished second of 25 competitors with a leap of 41 feet, 7 ¾ inches. The triple jump mark is the third best in Aztec history and currently ranks ninth in the nation, according to the website www.TFRRS.org. Sophomore Alex Evans (39-10.50) and junior Thoraya Maronsey (37-01.75) also finished fourth and 11th, respectively, in the triple jump.
A day after posting the second-best weight throw in program history, Whitney Ashley took fifth in the shot put with a toss of 46-04.25, which is also the second-best indoor throw in SDSU history. Senior Jeanette McConnell also PR'd in the event to place seventh in 44-00.00, while Leitulimaoatua Lefti (ninth, 42-08.00) and freshman Allison Reaser (23rd, 35-05.75) also competed for San Diego State.
The Aztecs had four top-10 finishers in the pole vault, led by senior Katie Vo's fourth-place showing with a clear of 12-03.50. Sophomore Moriah Roberge was seventh (11-09.75), while freshmen Holly Waseloff (eighth) and Heather Arseneau (ninth) each vaulted 11-09.75.
On the track, Reaser advanced to the finals in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.83 seconds. Later in the final, the multi-event specialist bettered her time to 8.81 to finish in seventh place. Junior Kiersten Kirkland added a 17th-place finish (9.18) in the hurdles.
Niki Novak made her debut a good one, taking eighth in the 800 meters with a time of 2:25.03, while AnSherae Devine (59.56) was 24th in the 400, and Julian Alarcio (8.06) and Jessika Hornsby (8.07) finished 26th and 27th, respectively, in the 60-meter prelims.
Reaser, Hornsby and Thomas teamed up with Maderia Young-Toatley in the 1,600-meter relay and finished fifth of 16 with a combined time of 3:54.59.
SDSU will be back in The Albuquerque Convention Center on Feb. 5-6 to compete in the New Mexico Classic.
UNM Invitational
The Albuquerque Convention Center
Albuquerque, N.M.
Saturday Results (SDSU athletes only)
60 Meters (prelims): 26. Julian Alarcio - 8.06; 27. Jessika Hornsby - 8.07
60-Meter Hurdles: (finals) 7. Allison Reaser - 8.81; (prelims) 7. Allison Reaser - 8.83q; 17. Kiersten Kirkland - 9.18
400 Meters: 24. AnSherae Devine - 59.56
800 Meters: 8. Niki Novak - 2:25.03
4x400-Meter Relay: 5. Allison Reaser, Jessika Hornsby, Shaneika Thomas, Maderia Young-Toatley - 3:54.59
Triple Jump: 2. Shanieka Thomas - 41-07.75; 4. Alex Evans - 39-10.50; 11. Thoraya Maronsey - 37-01.75
Pole Vault: 4. Katie Vo - 12-03.50; 7. Moriah Roberge - 11-09.75; 8. Holly Waseloff - 11-09.75; 9. Heather Arseneau; --. Kelsy Hintz - NH
Shot Put: 5. Whitney Ashley - 46-04.25; 7. Jeanette McConnell - 44-00.00; 9. Leitulimaoatua Lefti - 42-08.00; 23. Allison Reaser - 35-05.75