May 26, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas -
Shanieka Thomas and Alex Evans both qualified for the NCAA Championships in the triple jump to lead the San Diego State track and field team on the final day of the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds Saturday in Austin, Texas.
Thomas finished second of the 48 entrants with a leap of 44 feet, 8 inches. Thomas was only beaten by Andrea Geubelle of Kansas and her 46-06.00. It was the second-best mark in program history for Thomas, who finished seventh in the triple jump in this year's NCAA indoor meet and ninth in the 2011 meet. She now only trails Karoline Koehler's mark of 44-09.00, set in 2009, by one inch for the best triple jump in school history. Thomas matched her west regional ranking in the event.
Evans, meanwhile, advanced to the NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa (June 6-9) in the event by tying for 11th with a leap of 41-08.50. It was the fifth-best mark in program history and bettered her previous best of 41-06.00 by 2 ½ inches. Evans came into the weekend tied for 40th in the west region.
Thomas and Evans will be joined by Whitney Ashley (discus throw, shot put), Kelsy Hintz (pole vault) and Allison Reaser (heptathlon) at the NCAA Championships in Des Moines.
2012 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships (Preliminaries)
West Region - Austin, Texas
May 26, 2012 - Day Three of Three
(Top 12 advance to championship rounds in Des Moines, Iowa, from June 6-9, 2012)
Triple Jump (out of 48 entrants)
1. Andrea Geubelle (Kansas) - 46-06.00 (14.17m) (qualified for final in Des Moines)
2. Shanieka Thomas (SDSU) - 44-08.00 (13.61m) (qualified for final in Des Moines)
T-11. Alex Evans (SDSU) - 41-08.50 (12.71m) (qualified for final in Des Moines)