May 27, 2011
EUGENE, Ore. - Kelsy Hintz earned the final spot from the west region into the NCAA Championships in the pole vault to lead the San Diego State track and field team Friday at the NCAA Preliminary Rounds in Eugene, Ore.
Hintz took 12th of the 48 competitors, clearing 13 feet, 3 ½ inches on her first attempt. Three other athletes tied Hintz, but neither made the vault on their first attempt, allowing Hintz to advance to the NCAA championship meet from June 8-11 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Freshman Shaneika Thomas nearly made it 2-for-2 in the triple jump, but finished 14th with a leap of 41-04.25. Thomas, who was the only Aztec qualifier for the NCAA Championships in the indoor season and ended up taking ninth in the triple jump as the top freshman in the event, finished just 5 ½ inches and two spots out of qualifying for Des Moines.
Allison Reaser, who is already going to nationals in the heptathlon, took 22nd of 24 in the quarterfinal round of the 400-meter hurdles in 1:02.00.
Alex Evans was 41st in the triple jump (38-06.25), while Lawreta Ozoh's injury that forced her to not finish yesterday in the 100 preliminary rounds did not allow her to start the 200-meter race today.
Whitney Ashley, who qualified for the championships in the shot put yesterday, will be the only SDSU athlete competing tomorrow when she tries to advance in the discus throw, beginning at 10 a.m. PT.
NCAA Preliminary Rounds - West Region
Hayward Field - Eugene, Ore.
May 27, 2011
200 Meters: --. Lawreta Ozoh - DNS
400-Meter Hurdles (quarterfinal): 22. Allison Reaser - 1:02.00
Triple Jump: 14. Shanieka Thomas - 41-04.25; 41. Alex Evans - 38-06.25
Pole Vault: 12. Kelsy Hintz - 13-03.50 (advances to NCAA Championship meet)