May 13, 2014
SAN DIEGO -
2014 SDSU SEASON BESTS | LIVE RESULTS | MEET PAGE
No. 18 San Diego State looks to defend its title this weekend at the 2014 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Laramie, Wyo. The four-day meet begins Wednesday with the heptathlon.
Under head coach Shelia Burrell's direction, the Aztecs have finished seventh (2010), fourth (2011), fourth (2012) and first (2013). SDSU was third at the indoor meet.
San Diego State returns six of its nine all-conference performers from a year ago, including Allison Reaser and Shanieka Thomas. Reaser was named the meet's Most Outstanding Performer last year after earning all-league accolades in three events, including wins in the heptathlon and 100 hurdles. Thomas, meanwhile, won the long jump and triple jump, and ran the opening leg of the victorious 4x400-meter relay.
The other returning all-MW performers are Brittany Bozeman (second in heptathlon, third in javelin throw), Kristen Brown (first in pole vault, second in 100 hurdles), Jasmine Burrell (first in discus throw) and Toatley (member of the winning 4x400 relay).
Heading into this year's meet, the Aztecs have best marks in five events. Brown leads the way in the 100-meter hurdles and the pole vault, Nicole Oudenaarden tops the conference in the javelin throw and the heptathlon, Reaser joins Brown with the fastest 100 hurdles, and Thomas leads the MW in the triple jump.
The meet kicks off with the heptathlon at noon MT Wednesday with day two set for 12:30 p.m. Thursday. The hammer throw is the event on Friday (11 a.m. MT) with the 10K ending the day at 5:35 p.m. PT. The javelin throw and 4x100 starts Saturday at noon MT, while the meet closes with the 4x400 at 3:30 p.m. MT.
Heading into the weekend, the Aztecs have nine athletes currently in the top 48 of the NCAA West Regional. The top 48 individual athletes in the west region in every event but the heptathlon qualify for the NCAA West Regional Preliminary Rounds in Fayetteville, Ark., from May 29-31. The top 12 finishers in each event at the NCAA Preliminary Rounds then advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., from June 11-14.
Reaser is ranked in the top 48 in the west in the 400 hurdles (19th), long jump (22nd) and 100 hurdles (T-24th).
Thomas leads the way in the triple jump and is tied for 25th in the long jump, Burrell is 10th in the discus throw and 16th in the shot put, Brown is 11th in the pole vault and tied for 24th in the 100 hurdles and Oudenaarden ranks 29th in the javelin throw and tied for 29th in the long jump.
Bozeman is tied for 18th in the long jump, while Kortney Ross (T-28th), Karen Snapper (T-28th) and Holly Waseloff (T-38th) each would make it if the season ended today.
In the heptathlon, where the top-24 marks in the country directly advance to Eugene, Ore., Oudenaarden is currently ranked third and Reaser is seventh.