Oct. 18, 2013
SAN DIEGO -
2014 AZTEC TRACK & FIELD SCHEDULE
The San Diego State track and field team has released its 2014 schedule, head coach Shelia Burrell announced today. Highlighting the slate is the three-day 36th annual Aztec Invitational from March 27-29, 2014.
The Aztec Invitational will once again feature some of the top collegiate teams and athletes in the country and will include open, invitational and high school sections. More information and a meet schedule for the Aztec Invitational will be released in the coming weeks.
After the preseason Red and Black Inter-Squad meet on Dec. 7, the Aztecs officially kick off their 2014 campaign at the Cherry & Silver Collegiate in Albuquerque, N.M., on Jan. 24-26. The Cherry & Silver Collegiate is one of six meets on the indoor schedule for SDSU.
San Diego State will also compete in the Howie Ryan Invitational & Multi's in Houston, Texas on Jan. 31-Feb. 1 and the Don Kirby Elite in Albuquerque, N.M., on Feb. 14-15 prior to the Mountain West Championships, which the Aztecs will look to defend. This year's championship meet will be at USAFA, Colo., near Colorado Springs, from Feb. 27-March 1.
SDSU could then send some individuals to a last chance qualifying meet the following weekend before the NCAA Championships in Albuquerque, N.M., from March 14-15. At least year's NCAA indoor meet, current senior Shanieka Thomas was second in the triple jump, helping the team to a 25th-place tie.
San Diego State's outdoor campaign gets underway on March 15 at the Ben Brown Invitational in Fullerton, Calif., followed by a trip to the University of the West Indies Invitational on March 22 in Mona, Jamaica (Thomas' home country).
Following the Aztec Invitational from March 27-29, the Aztecs will look to capture a fourth consecutive Cal/Nevada Championships title on April 4-5 at UC San Diego.
Also on the docket for SDSU in April is the Mt. SAC/CA Multi's (April 16-17) in Azusa, Calif., the Mt. SAC Relays (April 17-19) in Walnut, Calif., the Drake Relays (April 24-26) in Des Moines, Iowa, and UCSD's Triton Invitational on April 25-26.
San Diego State will compete in a last chance qualifying meet in Azusa, Calif., on May 10 in a final tune-up for the Mountain West Conference Championships in Laramie, Wyo., from May 14-17. The Aztecs completed the 2013 MW Championships sweep last May by winning the outdoor meet in Las Vegas, Nev.
Those who qualify will then advance to the NCAA Prelims (West Regionals) in Fayetteville, Ark., from May 29-31.
SDSU will look to continue its recent success at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 11-14 in Eugene, Ore. Led by Thomas, who won the school's fifth individual NCAA title in school history and first in the triple jump, San Diego State tied for 23rd at the championships, giving the program its second consecutive outdoor top-25 team finish.
The Aztecs could also send athletes to various national championships and compete over the summer. Last year, SDSU had representatives at the USA Championships (Allison Reaser), Jamaican Championships (Thomas) and the Canadian Championships (Nicole Oudenaarden).