Fayetteville, Ark. – Eleven members of the Aztec track and field team and two relay teams have qualified for NCAA West Preliminary Championships, the NCAA announced on Friday.
The top 48 student-athletes in each individual event and the top 24 relay teams were selected to compete in the preliminary rounds of the NCAA Championships, held May 25-28 in Fayetteville, Arkansas (West region) and Bloomington, Indiana (East region).
This is the seventh consecutive season the Aztecs have had at least 10 student-athletes qualify for regionals. In total, SDSU will have 11 athletes competing in individual events, six in track events and five in field events, while both the 4x100m relay team and the 4x400m relay team qualified.
Jada Moore, fresh off winning three events at the Mountain West Conference Championships last week, qualified in two events, the 100m dash and the 200m dash. The Aztecs also had two other athletes qualifying in the sprint events. Danae Dyer, who won the 100m hurdles at the MW Championships, qualified for the meet in the 100m hurdles. Additionally, Jalyn Harris, who came in second in the 100m dash, qualified for the 200m dash.
In the mid-distance events Sakura Roberson qualified in the 400m run. Lauren Harper, who finished third at the MW Championships and set a new top five time all-time in the 800m run by running 2:06.40, qualified for regionals in the event. Rhea Hoyte, fresh off a third place showing in the 400m hurdles at the MW Championships, earned a spot in regionals in the event.
Based off their times earlier in the season the Aztecs will have both a 4x100m relay team and a 4x400m relay team compete at NCAA West Regionals. Heading into the meet the 4x100m team is ranked 11th in the region, while the 4x400m relay team is ranked 10th.
As for the field events, three Aztec pole vaulters earned a trip to Fayetteville. Kaitlin Heri, Ashley Callahan and Corey Friedenbach all qualified for regionals. Heri is ranked fourth in the region after clearing 14-0350, which is second all-time in school history, while Callahan and Friedenbach advanced after clearing 13-10.00 and 13-03.25 earlier this season. Additionally, Simone Johnson who won the triple jump at the MW Championships last weekend, qualified for regionals in the event, while Jenna Fee Feyerabend will compete in the high jump.
The top 12 in each event will advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships June 9-11 in Eugene, Oregon.
Up Next: The Aztecs will head to NCAA West Regionals May 26-28, which will be held in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
SDSU NCAA West Region Qualifiers
Ashley Callahan – Pole Vault
Danae Dyer – 100m Hurdles
Jenna Fee Feyerabend – High Jump
Corey Friedenbach – Pole Vault
Lauren Harper – 800m run
Jalyn Harris – 200m dash
Kaitlin Heri – Pole Vault
Rhea Hoyte – 400m Hurdles
Simone Johnson – Triple Jump
Jada Moore – 100m dash, 200m dash
Sakura Roberson – 400m
4x100m Relay
4x400m Relay
-SDSU-
Aztecs Qualify 11 For NCAA West Prelims
