CLOVIS, Calif. – The 2022 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships continued Friday evening with the preliminary round of track events, plus three field event finals. Kaitlin Heri set a Mountain West Championship Record in the pole vault, while the Aztecs had three athletes earn podium places on day three of competition.
In the pole vault competition, it was a historic evening for the Aztecs. Kaitlin Heri, fresh off winning the indoor championship in the event earlier this season, followed that up by winning the outdoor Mountain West Conference title in emphatic fashion. The senior cleared 14-03.50 in the win, which is a PR for her, is tied for second all-time in school history, and is a Mountain West Championship record. Freshman Ashley Callahan came in second place in the event, clearing 13-10.00 which is a PR for her outdoors and is also a freshman class record in the event. Elizabeth Funk finished in sixth place by clearing 12-10.25, to earn the Aztecs three more crucial points in the team category.
Simone Johnson earned the first podium place of the day earlier on for the Aztecs in the long jump. She placed third in the event after jumping 19-06.75 in the finals of the event, earning six points for the Aztecs in the team competition. Dejanae Thompson finished right behind her in fourth to earn five points for the team, she jumped 19-06.00.
In the shot put, Felicia Crenshaw came in 11th place and threw 4302.25.
"We have been in this position before," said Head Coach Shelia Burrell. "We did the job required for prelims and made a final in every running event we had an athlete entered in. We scored where we were supposed to score, and I believe in this team and now we have to compete and believe as a team tomorrow."
As for the track prelims, the Aztecs had 12 athletes move on to tomorrow's finals across seven events. Jessica Kain earned a spot in the 1,500m final to open the day for the Aztecs, she finished in 4:30.04 and finished 11th to qualify for Saturday's finals. Danae Dyer followed that with a heat and overall win in the 100m hurdles where she finished in 13.49 to qualify first. Sara Absten, fresh off her second place showing in the heptathlon yesterday, finished second in her heat and fourth overall to earn a spot in the 100m hurdles finals as well.
In the 400m run, Sakura Roberson qualified for Saturday's finals by winning her heat of the event by running 53.68. As for the 800m run, the Aztecs had three athletes qualify for the finals. Lauren Harper finished second in her heat and fourth overall in 2:08.74, while Nyjari McNeil finished in eighth in 2:10.02 to qualify, and Alex Lomeli rounded out the finalist by finishing in ninth overall in 2:11.36 As for the 400m hurdles, Rhea Hoyte finished fourth and qualified for Saturday's finals by running 1:00.81.
In the final track event of the day, the 200m dash, the Aztecs had three athletes qualify for the finals. Jada Moore placed second in her heat and fifth overall in 23.71 to qualify, Jalyn Harris finished in sixth overall in 23.78 and Danae Dyer finished in 23.95 to finish eighth overall to qualify for the finals.
The Note: Three Aztecs earned a spot on the podium in two different events. Kaitlin Heri and Ashley Callahan earned first and second in the pole vault, while Simone Johnson placed third in the long jump. Heri's mark of 14-03.50 is a Mountain West Championship meet record and is tied for No. 2 all-time at SDSU. Callahan's clearance of 13-10.00 is a freshman class record at SDSU.
Up Next: The final day of the Mountain West Championships is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. PT tomorrow with the discus. Track events start at 5:15 p.m. PT, with the finals of the 4x100m relay.
Streaming: The Mountain West Network will provide live coverage of the 2022 MW Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Fans can watch the outdoor track & field championships on their phones or connected TVs via the Mountain West app. Watch every moment of the MW Outdoor Track & Field Championships LIVE on your own TV through Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV or Roku. Mobile applications are available through the iOS App Store and Google Play. Visit TheMW.com/app for more information.
Mountain West Championships Day Three – Clovis, California
First Place and SDSU Result
Overall Team Standings (Through 7 of 21 Event)
1. Colorado State – 64 points
2. San Diego State – 50 points
3. Fresno State – 44 points
Field Event Finals
Pole Vault
1. Kaitlin Heri (SDSU) – 14-03.50 – PR, tied for No. 2 all-time, Championship record
2. Ashley Callahan (SDSU) – 13-10.00 – PR, Freshman Class Record
6. Elizabeth Funk (SDSU) – 12-10.25 – PR
Corey Friedenbach (SDSU) – NH
Long Jump
1. Shayla Howell (Wyoming) – 20-03.75
3. Simone Johnson (SDSU) – 19-06.75
4. Dejanae Thompson (SDSU) – 19-06.00
12. Sara Absten (SDSU) – 18-05.75
12. Vanessa Spizewski (SDSU) – 18-05.75
Shot Put
1. Gabby McDonald (CSU) – 55-02.75 (16.83m)
11. Felicia Crenshaw (SDSU) – 43-02.25 (13.16m)
Track Event Prelims
100m Dash
1. Janyah Jasper (CSU) – 11.55 (+2.0) – Q
2. Jada Moore (SDSU) – 11.56 (+2.1) – Q
3. Jalyn Harris (SDSU) – 11.63 (+2.0) – q
7. Aisha Watt (SDSU) – 11.92 (+2.1) – q
12. Tai McDonald (SDSU) – 12.10 (+2.0)
200m Dash
1. Lauren Gale (CSU) – 22.82 (+1.0)
5. Jada Moore (SDSU) – 23.71 (+0.9) – Q
6. Jalyn Harris (SDSU) – 23.78 (+0.8) – q
8. Danae Dyer (SDSU) – 23.95 (+0.8) – q
10. Aisha Watt (SDSU) – 24.12 (+0.9)
15. Tai McDonald (SDSU) – 23.68 (+1.0)
400m Dash
1. Lauren Gale (CSU) – 52.45 – Q
2. Sakura Roberson (SDSU) – 53.70 – Q
10. Anaya Alexander (SDSU) – 56.15
800m Run
1. Kristie Schoffield (Boise State) – 2:07.73 – Q
4. Lauren Harper (SDSU) – 2:08.74 – Q
8. Nyjari McNeil (SDSU) – 2:10.02 – q
9. Alex Lomeli (SDSU) – 2:11.36 – q
1,500m Run
1. Sarah Exkel (New Mexico) – 4:28.00 – Q
11. Jessica Kain (SDSU) – 4:30.04 – q
19. Emily Burd (SDSU) – 4:41.17
100m Hurdles
1. Danae Dyer (SDSU) – 13.49 (+0.8) – Q
4. Sara Absten (SDSU) – 13.95 (+1.1) – q
400m Hurdles
1. Yolonda Johnson (CSU) – 58.49 – Q
4. Rhea Hoyte (SDSU) – 1:00.81 – q
15. Carina Clark (SDSU) – 1:03.59
-SDSU-
Kaitlin Heir Sets MW Pole Vault Championship Record
