May 12, 2016
CLOVIS, Calif. -
Kassidy Ellis moved up one place on the final day of the heptathlon to finish third with 5,238 points to lead the San Diego State track and field team Thursday at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships in Clovis, Calif. Karsen Sper added a sixth-place finish in the two-day event with 5,011 points as both Aztecs finished with lifetime-best point totals.
After starting the day in fourth, Ellis tied for the best long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 10 ¾ inches (5.76m) for 777 points. Next up was the javelin throw, where Ellis came in sixth with a heave of 113-07 (34.63m) for 565 points. Ellis finished her strong outing with a seventh-place showing in the 800 in 2 minutes, 23.92 second for 771 points.
The 5,238 points by Ellis are the ninth most in program history.
Sper, meanwhile, was ninth in the long jump (17-11.50 (5.47m)) for 691 points, 10th in the javelin (94-11 (28.93m)) for 456 points and third in the 800 (2:19.92) for 825 points. She maintained her place of sixth after the first four events on Wednesday.
"What a great competition," SDSU head coach Shelia Burrell said. "Senior Karsen Sper finished her Aztec career with her best performance ever and Kassidy Ellis cracked the all-time top-10 (list at SDSU). Sometimes winning is achieved by how you compete and not where you place.
"Both athletes had lifetime bests and had some defining character moments. As a former heptathlete, I was reminded why I love this event watching my two (athletes) show toughness and grit for two very hot, long days. Today we were the happiest third- and sixth-place finishers."
Colorado State's Jessica Green won the event with 5,552 points, followed by Nevada's Nicole Wadden (5,508) and Ellis. New Mexico's Samantha Bowe (5,168) and Colorado State's Monica Franco (5,095) rounded out the top five.
After two events completed (the 10,000-meter run was also contested today), San Diego State is in a tie for third place with nine points with Air Force. Colorado State leads with 29 points, while New Mexico is second with 16 points. Nevada rounds out the top five with eight points.
Friday begins with the hammer throw for the Aztecs at 3:30 p.m. PT and ends with the 3,000-meter steeplechase at 8 p.m. PT.
2016 Mountain West Outdoor Championships
Veterans Memorial Stadium - Clovis, Calif.
May 11-14, 2016
Team Results (after 2 of 21 events)
1. Colorado State - 29
2. New Mexico - 16
3t. San Diego State - 9
3t. Air Force - 9
5. Nevada - 8
6. Wyoming - 4
7. Utah State - 2
8. UNLV - 1
9t. Boise State - 0
9t. Fresno State - 0
9t. San José State - 0
Individual Results (SDSU and winner of each event only)
Heptathlon (after 7 of 7 events) (out of 17 entrants)
1. Jessica Green (Colorado State) - 5,552
3. Kassidy Ellis (SDSU) - 5,238 (No. 9 all-time at SDSU)
6. Karsen Sper (SDSU) - 5,011