CLOVIS, Calif. – Asia Smith and Sara Absten combined to pick up eight points for the Aztecs in the heptathlon Thursday evening at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships. Smith took third with 5,309 points and Absten placed seventh with 4,937 points with both heptathletes setting new personal bests for total points.
Smith's total of 5,309 beat her previous best by over 150 points and gives her the ninth best heptathlon score in program history. She was just two points behind the second-place finisher.
Smith began the night with a second-place finish in the long jump, clearing 19-01.50 (5.83m), just half an inch off her PR. Absten came in fourth with a jump of 18-09.25 (5.72m).
In the next event, the javelin throw, Smith came in sixth with a throw of 101-09 (31.02m) while Absten placed 10th (58-04, 17.78m).
In the final event, the 800 meter run, Absten set a new PR with a time of 2:21.27 to take third place. Smith crossed the finish line in 2:38.28, good for eighth place.
UP NEXT
The rest of the Aztecs will be in action tomorrow. On Friday, there will be the prelims for all track events and finals for the long jump, shot put and pole vault. Saturday will feature the finals for the javelin, triple jump, discus and high jump as well as all the track events
THE NOTE
Absten set personal bests in five of the seven events, as well as posting a new high overall score.
Mountain West Championships
Heptathlon
1. Jestena Mattson (Fresno St.) – 5,635
3. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 5,309 – PR, No. 9 all-time at SDSU
7. Sara Absten (SDSU) – 4,937 - PR
Day One
100m Hurdles
1. Aria Tate (CSU) – 13.99 (-0.6)
2. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 14.06 (-0.6) – PR
8. Sara Absten (SDSU) – 14.75 (-0.1) – PR
High Jump
1. Alyssa Hirschi (USU) – 5-07.75 (1.72m)
3. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 5-06.50 (1.69m)
T-4. Sara Absten (SDSU) – 5-05.25 (1.66m) – PR
Shot Put
1. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 43-07.25 (13.29m) – PR
T-8. Sara Absten (SDSU) – 32-08.50 (9.97m) – PR
200m Dash
1. Jestena Mattson (Fresno St.) – 24.29 (+1.1)
4. Sara Absten (SDSU) – 24.75 (+1.1) – PR
5. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 25.26 (+1.8) – PR
Day Two
Long Jump
1. Jestena Mattson (Fresno St.) – 19-08.25w (6.00m) (3.4)
2. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 19-01.50 (5.83m) (2.0)
4. Sara Absten (SDSU) – 18-09.25 (5.72m) (1.1)
Javelin Throw
1. Anna Maria Sommerfeld (Nevada) – 140-01 (42.69m)
6. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 101-09 (31.02m)
10. Sara Absten (SDSU) – 58-04 (17.78m)
800m Run
1. Amelia Harvey (Colorado St.) – 2:19.16
3. Sara Absten (SDSU) – 2:21.27 - PR
8. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 2:38.28
Smith & Absten Pick Up Eight Points in Heptathlon
