COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Aztec track and field team completed their first day of the NCAA West Preliminary Championships at Texas A&M Thursday. Competing in warm and breezy conditions, Danae Dyer (100m hurdles) was the lone Aztec track athlete to qualify for Saturday's quarterfinals.
Dyer advanced to the next round after finishing the 100m hurdles in 13.31 (wind), which was third in her heat.
"Today's goal was to make it to the next round," Head coach Shelia Burrell said. "Danae usually needs one race in her legs, even though her time wasn't stellar, we are comfortable and looking forward to Saturday."
Jada Moore had a personal best time of 11.48 in the 100m dash but failed to qualify for the next round. Her time beat her SDSU freshman record and is the sixth fastest in program history. Moore also failed to advance in the 200m dash.
"Jada is still learning how to run the 100 meter," Burrell said after the race. "Given what she understands so far, we feel good with an 11.48 wind legal time."
Kaitlin Heri tied for the ninth highest mark (13-08.25, 4.27m) in the pole vault but ended up finishing 17th based on tiebreakers. This was her second-best mark of the season. She cleared 12-10.25 and 13-04.25 in her second attempt and 13-08.25 in her third.
"Kaitlin was jumping very well today. We had some issues with her pole selection because she was running really well and had some wind behind her back," Burrell explained. "Unfortunately, she didn't qualify for the finals, but she had the legs to do it."
Jessica Kain ran the 1,500m in 4:24.34 (25th place), which was the fastest time to not qualify for Saturday's final, missing the cut by just 0.67 seconds. Kain has run the 1,500m in under 4:25 three times in the last 30 days.
"Jessica was so close," Burrell said. "She had a great season and with this being her first time on this stage, I'm looking forward to see how this experience motivates her next year."
Four Aztecs, three of which were underclassmen, were competing in the 200m dash but none were able to qualify for the next round. Jalyn
Harris had the best time, finishing in 23.32 (wind) and in 25th place. Jada Moore, the Mountain West champion ran a wind-legal 23.42 (30th) and Aisha Watt finished in 23.90 (wind). Danae Dyer was disqualified after committing a false start.
"I'm really excited for our young group of sprinters, but I think our youth showed today" Burrell stated. "This was a perfect introduction to the next level for a lot of our freshmen and sophomores. The future is bright."
Rhea Hoyte and Maya Brosch both failed to advance to Saturday after finishing in 33rd and 41st place. Hoyte finished in 1:00.33, her third fastest time of the year, and Brosch had a time of 1:01.57.
Nyjari McNeil, the Mountain West champ in the 800m run, had a time of 2:10.17, which was the 38th fastest.
"Nyjari was prepared and ready to execute a better race," Burrell explained. "She ran a great race from behind at the Mountain West Championships for a season best, so we hoped to improve here. Without having the kind of base we are accustomed to this year, we are grateful to have made it to the NCAA West Prelims this year."
Jalyn Harris finished the 400m dash in 54.23, good for sixth in her heat and 36th overall.
Jordyn Bryant didn't make the cut in the shot put, finishing in 45th with a throw of 47-01.50 (14.36m).
UP NEXT
Danae Dyer will be competing in the 100m hurdles finals at 4:45 p.m. PT Saturday. In the field events, SDSU will have Jordyn Bryant and Erica Grotegeer in the discus (11:30 a.m. PT), Simone Johnson in the triple jump (1:15 p.m. PT) and Jade Cany in the high jump (11:00 a.m. PT).
NCAA West Prelims – College Station, Texas (Texas A&M)
Top Finishers & SDSU Results
Pole Vault – Top 12 Advance
T-1. Tusedi Tidwell (Baylor) – 14-00.00 (4.27m)
T-1. Lauren Martinez (Arkansas) – 14-00.00 (4.27m)
17. Kaitlin Heri (SDSU) – 13-08.25 (4.17m)
Shot Put – Top 12 Advance
1. Laulauga Tausaga (Iowa) - 58-11.50 (17.97m)
45. Jordyn Bryant (SDSU) – 47-01.50 (14.36m)
100m Dash – Top three from each heat plus next six best times advance
1. Kemba Nelson (Oregon) – 10.91 (wind, +2.1)
30. Jada Moore (SDSU) – 11.48 (+1.6) – PR, SDSU Freshman Record, No. 6 all-time
200m Dash – Top three from each heat plus next six best times advance
1. Kynnedy Flannel (Texas) – 22.52 (wind, +2.9)
25. Jalyn Harris (SDSU) – 23.32 (wind, +2.9)
30. Jada Moore (SDSU) –23.42 (+1.9)
43. Aisha Watt (SDSU) – 23.90 (wind, +2.9)
Danae Dyer (SDSU) – False start (DQ)
400m Dash – Top three from each heat plus next six best times advance
1. Athing Mu (Texas A&M) – 50.65
36. Jalyn Harris (SDSU) – 54.23
800m Run – Top three from each heat plus next six best times advance
1. Anna Camp (BYU) - 2:02.83 – Facility Record
38. Nyjari McNeil (SDSU) – 2:10.17
1,500m Run – Top five from each heat plus next four best times advance
1. Whittni Orton (BYU) – 4:16.16
25. Jessica Kain (SDSU) – 4:24.34 (fastest time that didn't qualify)
100m Hurdles – Top three from each heat plus next six best times advance
1. Ackera Nugent (Baylor) – 12.63 (wind,+3.3)
25. Danae Dyer (SDSU) – 13.31q (wind,+2.2) – Third in her heat
400m Hurdles – Top three from each heat plus next six best times advance
1. Shae Anderson (UCLA) – 56.50
33. Rhea Hoyte (SDSU) – 1:00.33
41. Maya Brosch (SDSU) – 1:01.57
Danae Dyer Advances to Quarterfinals of 100m Hurdles
