ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Aztec track and field team had a successful first day at the Mountain West Indoor Championships Thursday at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The day was highlighted by Asia Smith winning the pentathlon and the Aztecs shattering their school record in the distance medley relay.
Smith posted new personal bests in all five events and finished with 4,075 points, a new personal best and the second most points in school history. Without factoring in the scores that will happen this weekend, that would be the ninth best in the nation. The top 16 scores qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Smith began the day by finishing second in the 60m hurdles (8.58 seconds) and the high jump (5-07.00). Her mark in the high jump tied her PR and the No. 3 mark in school history. Smith then won the shot put (42-03.25) and the long jump (19-04.00) and finished the day out with a PR in the 800m run (2:30.59).
Freshman Neele Schuten finished in fourth with 3,804 points, recording personal records in high jump, long jump and 800m run. Sara Absten came in sixth with 3,694 points.
SDSU took fifth place in the distance medley relay a set a new school record. The group of Lauren Harper, Nyjari McNeil, Sakura Roberson and Emily Burd finished in 11:53.85, a full 12 seconds better than the previous school record set in 2014.
The Aztecs sit in second place with 22 points after the first day, trailing Colorado State's 28 points.
THE NOTE
All three pentathles recorded scores that place them in the top ten all-time: Asia Smith (2nd, 4,075), Neele Schuten (7th, 3,804) and Sara Absten (8th, 3,694)
UP NEXT
The Aztecs continue the Mountain West championships Friday. The meet will be streamed on FloTrack (subscription required).
Mountain West Indoor Championships – Day One
Albuquerque N.M. – Albuquerque Convention Center
Team Scores (Top Five)
1. Colorado State – 28
2. San Diego State – 22
3. New Mexico – 10
4. Air Force - 6
5. Boise State – 5
Top Finisher & SDSU Results
Distance Medley Relay
1. New Mexico – 11:12.27
5. SDSU (Harper, McNeil, Roberson, Burd) – 11:53.85
Pentathlon
1. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 4,075 – PR, No. 2 all-time in School History, SDSU Record for a Junior
4. Neele Schuten (SDSU) – 3,804 - PR, No. 7 all-time in School History
6. Sara Absten (SDSU) – 3,694 - PR, No. 8 all-time in school history
60m Hurdles Pentathlon
1. Aria Tate (Colorado State) – 8.56
2. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 8.58 – PR
3. Neele Schuten (SDSU) – 8.63
7. Sara Absten (SDSU) – 8.90 - PR
High Jump Pentathlon
1. Lexie Keller (Colorado State) – 5-08.00 (1.73m)
2. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 5-07.00 (1.70m) – T-PR, T-No. 3 in School History
8. Sara Absten (SDSU) – 5-03.25 (1.61m)
9. Neele Schuten (SDSU) – 5-02.25 (1.58m) – T-PR
Shot Put Pentathlon
1. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 42-03.25 (12.88m) - PR
2. Neele Schuten (SDSU) – 38-11.50 (11.87m)
7. Sara Absten (SDSU) – 34-01.50 (10.40m) - PR
Long Jump Pentathlon
1. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 19-04.00 (5.89m) – PR, No. 10 in SDSU Indoor History
3. Neele Schuten (SDSU) – 18-08.50 (5.70m) - PR
8. Sara Absten (SDSU) – 17-10.75 (5.45m) - PR
800m Run Pentathlon
3. Sara Absten (SDSU) – 2:23.69
6. Neele Schuten (SDSU) – 2:30.17 - PR
7. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 2:30.59 - PR
Asia Smith Wins Pentathlon at MW Indoor Championships
