Track and Field

No. 16 Aztec T&F Set for National Stage This Weekend

No. 16 Aztec T&F Set for National Stage This WeekendNo. 16 Aztec T&F Set for National Stage This Weekend

June 5, 2017

SAN DIEGO -

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No. 16 San Diego State track and field represents the Scarlet and Black on the national level with the NCAA Championships at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., Thurs., June 7 through Sat., June 10. The six Aztecs qualified in six events will compete at the national meet on Thursday (June 8) and Saturday (June 10).

The highest-ranked Group of Five program in the nation, San Diego State has six entries to Eugene, with three Aztecs qualifying for multiple events: juniors Ashley Henderson and Simone Glenn, and senior Micha Auzenne. Henderson will compete in the 100, 200 and 4x100, Glenn will represent SDSU in the 200 and 4x100, and Auzenne will appear in the 100 hurdles and the 4x100. Also competing is junior Bonnie Draxler in the pole vault and, in their first years as an Aztec, junior Rochene Smith (4x100), a transfer from Wayland Baptist, and freshman Andrenette Knight (400 hurdles). Senior Starlynn Singleton will serve as an alternate for the 4x100. SDSU's 10 appearances at the NCAA Championships are its most since 2004.

Led by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Women's West Region and Mountain West Coach of the Year Shelia Burrell, San Diego State is vying for its fifth top-25 team finish in six years after winning its third MW Outdoor title in five years this season.

The Scarlet and Black boasts four returners to the NCAA Championships. As members of the 4x100-meter relay in 2016, Auzenne, Glenn and Henderson set what was then a school record at 43.68 and took sixth. Henderson also placed in the 100 (2nd, 10.96w) and 200 (11th, 23.30), while Auzenne finished 19th (13.27) in the 100 hurdles and junior Bonnie Draxler was 23rd in the pole vault (13-00.25).

The 2017 Aztecs kick off the NCAA Championships on Thursday at 4:32 p.m. PT with the semifinal of the 4x100, and the pole vault final is set for 5 p.m. PT. Meanwhile, the semifinals of the 100 hurdles (5:32 p.m. PT), 100 (5:46 p.m. PT), 400 hurdles (6:30 p.m. PT) and 200 (6:44 p.m. PT) are also on tap for Thursday. Each semifinal event has three heats with the top-two finishers in each heat plus the next two-fastest times advancing to Saturday's final. If San Diego State advances, the finals of those events are slated for 3:32 p.m. PT (4x100), 4:12 p.m. PT (100 hurdles), 4:22 p.m. PT (100), 4:57 p.m. PT (400 hurdles) and 5:07 p.m. PT (200).

Both the semifinals on Thursday and the finals on Saturday will broadcast live on the ESPN networks, while live results will be available at GoAztecs.com. Both links (webcast and live results) are also posted on GoAztecs.com.

Below is a list of SDSU's qualifiers, seeds and heat assignments, and schedule for the weekend.

2017 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Hayward Field | Eugene, Ore. | Univ. of Oregon
June 7-10, 2017 (SDSU competes June 8 and June 10)
(Top 8 in each event score)

100 Meters
5. Ashley Henderson - 11.01 (Heat 3)
(Semifinals - 5:46 p.m. PT Thursday: Three heats - Top 2 from each heat advance to finals, plus next 2 fastest times) (Finals - 4:22 p.m. PT Saturday)

200 Meters
6. Ashley Henderson ââ'¬" 22.35 (Heat 1) 1. Simone Glenn - 22.98 (Heat 3)
(Semifinals - 6:44 p.m. PT Thursday: Three heats - Top 2 from each heat advance to finals, plus next 2 fastest times)
(Finals ââ'¬" 5:07 p.m. PT Saturday)

100 Hurdles
7. Micha Auzenne ââ'¬" 12.08 (Heat 1)
(Semifinals - 5:32 p.m. PT Thursday: Three heats - Top 2 from each heat advance to finals, plus next 2 fastest times)
(Finals ââ'¬" 4:12 p.m. PT Saturday)

400 Hurdles
3. Andrenette Knight ââ'¬" 57.16 (Heat 3) (Semifinals - 6:30 p.m. PT
(Semifinals - Thursday: Three heats - Top 2 from each heat advance to finals, plus next 2 fastest times)
(Finals - 4:57 p.m. PT Saturday)

4x100-Meter Relay
5. San Diego State - 43.36 (Heat 3)
(Semifinals - 4:32 p.m. PT Thursday: Three heats - Top 2 from each heat advance to finals, plus next 2 fastest times)
(Finals - 3:32 p.m. PT Saturday)

Pole Vault
24. Bonnie Draxler - 14-01.25 (4.30m)
(Finals - 5 p.m. PT Thursday)

NCAA Championship Notes
San Diego State heads into the meet ranked No. 16, its highest ranking this season, and the highest ranking of any Group of Five school … The No. 16 ranking is SDSU's best heading into the national meet since 2014, when the Aztecs tied for 12th … San Diego State tied for ninth in 2012 (21 points), tied for 23rd in 2013 (11), tied for 12th in 2014 (18) and tied for 20th in 2016 (11) ... The Aztecs' best ever finish at the championship meet is ninth (1985 and 2012) ... SDSU has won seven individual national titles in program history, including four (Shanieka Thomas - 2013-14 outdoor triple jump, 2014 indoor triple jump; Whitney Ashley - 2012 outdoor discus throw) under head coach Shelia Burrell since she took over in 2009 ... Knight (400 hurdles) is the first Aztec freshman to qualify for the NCAA Championships since Nicole Oudenaarden in 2013 (heptathlon) … Knight is the first Aztec to qualify in the 400 hurdles since Nicole Ireland in 2004 … Henderson is the first Aztec to compete in two individual events and a 4x100 relay in back-to-back years since Tonette Dyer (2003 - 200, 400, 4x100; 2004 - 100, 200, 4x100) … Auzenne is looking to become SDSU's first back-to-back national competitor in the 100 hurdles since Heather Heron in 2004 and 2005.