Feb. 11, 2011
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Junior Whitney Ashley set two school records and was one of eight Aztecs who posted all-time top-10 indoor marks Friday night at the Don Kirby Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M.
Ashley, a Cerritos College transfer, broke the indoor school records in both the weight throw and shot put. In the weight throw, Ashley defeated 14 others with a toss of 61 feet, 5 inches, almost five feet farther than Tamara McMillan's previous program record of 57-07.50, set in 2009. In the shot put, Ashley finished third of 17 competitors with a heave of 50-04.50, taking Candace Hill's 48-08.75 record (2004).
Meanwhile, junior Shanae Roach made her SDSU debut a good one by winning the 60-meter dash in a time of 7.42 seconds, good enough for the third-fastest time in school history. Only San Diego State Hall of Fame member Tonette Dyer (7.33, 2004) and six-time All-American Karoline Koehler (7.38, 2010) have run faster over the 60-meter distance. Roach, whose preliminary time of 7.53 moved her into No. 5 all-time, also logged a 23.94 to take fourth in a stacked 200. Only Dyer (23.75, 2004), Nicole Ireland (23.84, 2004) and Darla Vaughn (23.89, 1992) have gone faster indoors for the Aztecs.
Freshman multi-event specialist Allison Reaser continued to show her versatility, taking second in the 60-meter hurdles (8.62, seventh all-time) and seventh in the long jump (19-02.50, sixth all-time), while classmate Shanieka Thomas logged the third-best triple jump in school history (42-01.50).
Joining Ashley with solid performance in the throws were senior Jeanette McConnell, freshman Lima Lefiti and junior Ellie Fanaika. In the shot put, McConnell (45-10.75, third all-time) and Lefiti (43-07.00, fourth all-time) each set personal bests. Fanaika, making her SDSU debut, took fourth in the weight throw with a toss of 53-02.25 (fourth all-time).
San Diego State continued its dominance in the pole vault, placing six in the top 10. Sophomore Kelsy Hintz led the way with a new indoor collegiate PR of 12-10.00. Only former All-Americans Stephanie James (14-01.25), Erin Asay (14-00.50) and Shayla Balentine (14-00.00) have gone higher. Senior Katie Vo and freshman Holly Waseloff (collegiate PR) each cleared 11-10.00 to take eighth, while freshman Heather Arseneau, freshman Kelsie Jarratt and sophomore Moriah Roberge all set Aztec indoor personal bests of 11-10.00 for 10th.
SDSU travels to Flagstaff, Ariz., on Feb. 19 for the Lumberjack Invitational in its final tune-up before the Mountain West Conference Indoor Championships (Feb. 24-26).
Don Kirby Invitational
The Albuquerque Convention Center
Albuquerque, N.M.
Individual Results (SDSU only)
60 Meters (prelims): 4. Shanae Roach - 7.53q
60 Meters (finals): 1. Shanae Roach - 7.42
200 Meters: 4. Shanae Roach - 23.94
800 Meters: 4. Niki Novak - 2:19.97; 8. AnSherae Devine - 2:26.23
60-Meter Hurdles (prelims): 5. Allison Reaser - 8.71q; 8. Kiersten Kirkland - 8.82q
60-Meter Hurdles (finals): 2. Allison Reaser - 8.62; 5. Kiersten Kirkland - 8.86
Long Jump: 7. Allison Reaser - 19-02.50; 16. Alex Evans - 16-10.75; 17. Thoraya Maronsey - 16-08.75
Triple Jump: 4. Shanieka Thomas - 42-01.50; 6. Alex Evans - 39-01.00; 8. Thoraya Maronsey - 37-09.25
High Jump: 8. Shanieka Thomas - 5-05.00; 11. Allison Reaser - 5-03.00
Pole Vault: 3. Kelsy Hintz - 12-10.00; 8. Holly Waseloff - 11-10.00; 8. Katie Vo - 11-10.00; 10. Heather Arseneau - 11-10.00; 10. Kelsie Jarratt - 11-10.00; 10. Moriah Roberge - 11-10.00
Shot Put: 3. Whitney Ashley - 50-04.50; 5. Jeanette McConnell - 45-10.75; 7. Lima Lefiti - 43-07.00; 8. Laura Boggelin - 42-02.00; 13. Allison Reaser - 36-11.50
Weight Throw: 1. Whitney Ashley - 61-05.00; 4. Ellie Fanaika - 53-02.25