May 10, 2012
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - San Diego State sophomore Allison Reaser won the heptathlon with a U.S. Olympic Trials "B" standard mark of 5,653 points Thursday at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships at the Cadet Outdoor Track & Field Complex in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The 5,653 points provisionally qualify her for the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., in June, are the ninth most in the nation this year, the second most in a MW Championship meet and the second most in program history. It was the fourth consecutive MW multi title (2011-12 outdoor heptathlon, 2011-12 indoor pentathlon) for Reaser, who would have won today without even competing in the seventh and final event (800 meters).
Reaser won all three events Thursday with two PR's (personal records), a day after winning three of four events in PR's. Boise State's Alexi Morton finished second with 4,860 points, while Wyoming's Jenna Mann was third with 4,828.
"Today was a great day for Allison Reaser," head coach Shelia Burrell said. "My plan was to take it easy and just go for the win. Allison's plan was to qualify for the Olympic Trials. We both got what we wanted today with the win and the qualifying mark. I am usually pretty calm during a meet, but today was absolutely fantastic to watch how well she managed each event. She has so much more there so I'm looking forward to seeing her improve from here."
"Going into the meet, I wanted to do my best in each event but I wasn't expecting anything spectacular," Reaser said. "After the (100) hurdles (on Wednesday), I thought maybe this would be the meet I get the (U.S. Olympic) "B" standard. I wanted to have fun and stay relaxed. I focused in each event and (reached) my goal."
Reaser began her day with a win in the long jump with a leap of 19 feet, 11 ½ inches. It was a personal-best jump (previous best was 19-09.75) and well ahead of runner-up finisher Morton (18-03.75).
Reaser then won the javelin with a toss of 131-02, bettering her previous best by more than six feet (124-07). UNLV's Taylar Mills was second in 122-04.
Reaser ended the grueling two-day competition in the 800, winning in 2 minutes, 24.96 seconds. It wasn't her fastest 800 ever, but a respectable time for elevation and 0.70 seconds faster than runner-up finisher Phaelen Fench (2:25.66) of Air Force.
The weekend's not over for Reaser as she is also slated to run the 100 hurdles and 400 hurdles (each which will have a preliminary heat and final heat), and both relays (4x100 and 4x400).
The Aztecs, who lead the championships with 10 points after the first event, begin Friday with Ellie Fanaika, Whitney Ashley and Jasmine Burrell in the hammer throw at 10 a.m. MT and end with Marianne Hogan in the 10,000 at 4:50 p.m. MT.
Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Cadet Outdoor Track & Field Complex - Colorado Springs, Colo.
May 10, 2012 - Day Two of Four
Team Results (out of eight teams) (after one event)
1. San Diego State - 10
2. Wyoming - 9
3. Boise State - 8
4. UNLV - 6
5. Colorado State - 5
6. Air Force - 1
Individual Results
Heptathlon (out of eight entrants) (after all seven events)
1. Allison Reaser (SDSU) - 5,653 (U.S. Olympic Trials "B" (provisional) standard, No. 2 in MW Championship history, No. 2 all-time at SDSU)
2. Alexi Morton (Boise State) - 4,860
3. Jenna Mann (Wyoming) - 4,828
4. Cate Brus (Colorado State) - 4,788
5. Taylar Mills (UNLV) - 4,708
6. Katy Hall (Wyoming) - 4,282
7. Rita Rudell (UNLV) - 4,132
8. Phaelan French (Air Force) - 3,859