Jan. 20, 2017
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -
Ellison Grove ran the fastest indoor 600-meter time in San Diego State recorded history to lead the Aztecs on the first day of the Cherry & Silver Invitational Friday in Albuquerque, N.M.
Grove ran the three-lap event in 1 minute, 31.48 seconds to beat teammate and runner-up Monique McPherson (1:33.79) by over two seconds. According to Athletic.net, Grove and McPherson are now the two-fastest indoor 600-meter runners in program history. The 600, which is rarely run at the collegiate level and not in championship races, had only four SDSU finishers in the event prior to tonight, according to the Athletic.net website, with Deyna Roberson's 2013 time of 1:36.86 leading the way. Cindy Flores (1:39.44) and Angela Wilson (1:40.13) came in eighth and ninth, respectively, in the 19-woman race.
Micha Auzenne led the way for the San Diego State sprinters, advancing to Saturday's semifinals in both the open 60 and 60-meter hurdles in Friday's prelims. Auzenne ran the fastest time in the 60 out of 51 entrants at 7.36 and had the third-best time out of 28 in the 60 hurdles in 8.29.
Simone Glenn and Rochene Smith both moved into the semifinals in both the 60 and 200. Glenn was third (out of 54) in the 200 in 23.94 and 16th (out of 51) in the 60 (7.64), while Smith took sixth in the 200 (24.24) and ninth in the 60 (7.52, No. 10 in Aztec history).
All-American Ashley Henderson was third in the 60-meter prelims in 7.48 to qualify for tomorrow's semifinal, but scratched in the 200 later in the day.
Andrenette Knight also advanced in the 60 hurdles, finishing fifth in the prelims in 8.67.
Starlynn Singleton led the long jumpers with a seventh-place outing out of 34 competitors with a leap of 18 feet, 10 ¾ inches (5.76m), while Jelena McNown came in ninth in 18-04.25 (5.59m).
Freja Liljedahl paced a group of three SDSU weight throwers with a toss of 45-09.00 (13.94), good enough for 18th.
The final day of the Cherry & Silver Invitational gets underway at 10 a.m. MT (9 a.m. PT) Saturday.
Cherry & Silver Invitational
Albuquerque Convention Center - Albuquerque, N.M.
Day 1 of 2 - January 20, 2017
Team Results
No team scores
Individual Results (winner and SDSU only)
60 Meters (prelims) (out of 51 entrants)
1. Micha Auzenne (SDSU) - 7.36q
3. Ashley Henderson (SDSU) - 7.48q
9. Rochene Smith (SDSU) - 7.52q (No. 10 all-time at SDSU)
16. Simone Glenn (SDSU) - 7.64q
33. Tyra Lea (SDSU) - 7.97
200 Meters (prelims) (out of 54 entrants)
1. Tobi Amusan (UTEP) - 23.56
3. Simone Glenn (SDSU) - 23.95
6. Rochene Smith (SDSU) - 24.24
21. Starlynn Singleton (SDSU) - 25.30
600 Meters (out of 19 entrants)
1. Ellison Grove (SDSU) - 1:31.48 (school record)
2. Monique McPherson (SDSU) - 1:33.79
8. Cindy Flores (SDSU) - 1:39.44
9. Angela Wilson (SDSU) - 1:40.13
60-Meter Hurdles (prelims) (out of 28 entrants)
1. Tobi Amusan (UTEP) - 8.09q
3. Micha Auzenne (SDSU) - 8.29q
5. Andrenette Knight (SDSU) - 8.67q
Long Jump (out of 34 entrants)
1. Brittany Howell (Unattached) - 19-1.75 (6.09m)
7. Starlynn Singleton (SDSU) - 18-10.75 (5.76m)
9. Jelena McNown (SDSU) - 18-04.25 (5.59m)
13. Kira Moreland (SDSU) - 17-11.50 (5.47m)
Weight Throw (out of 32 entrants)
1. Vesta Bell (Unattached) - 68-08.50 (20.94m)
18. Freja Liljedahl (SDSU) - 45-09.00 (13.94m)
25. Coryne McKenney (SDSU) - 40-04.75 (12.31m)
27. Rachel Alesi (SDSU) - 39-03.25 (11.97m)