SAN DIEGO – San Diego State track and field had five former student-athletes named to the Mountain West 25th season indoor team, the conference office announced on Wednesday. The five Aztecs were Bonnie Draxler, Ashley Henderson, Karoline Koehler, Allison Reaser, and Shanieka Thomas.
Arguably the best pole vaulter in Mountain West history, Bonnie Draxler (now Blain) donned the Scarlet and Black from 2015-19. In that time, she qualified for two NCAA Indoor Championships including finishing as the 2019 national runner-up. She was named the 2019 USTFCCCA West Region Field Athlete of the Year to go along with her first team all-America selection. She was also a four-time indoor MW pole vault champion, claiming the title in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019 making her one of just two athletes in conference history to win four titles in the same event (also Candis Kelley of TCU in shot put). Her clearance of 4.56m (14-11.5) at the 2019 NCAA Championships still ranks as the best mark in conference history by more than 10 inches.
Ashley Henderson was an Aztec from 2015-18 and became one of the most decorated sprinters in San Diego State history. Her four indoor all-America selections and five indoor Mountain West championships are both tied for the most by an Aztec. In her final two seasons, she qualified for the NCAA Championships in both the 60m and 200m dashes, finishing top five in all four races including a silver medal in the 2018 200m dash. She still owns the MW record in the 200m (22.41) and ranks second in the 60m (7.17), both of which are the fastest in San Diego State history.
Karoline Koehler is one of two SDSU Hall of Famers on the 25th season team, being elected as part of the 2015 class. A four-time indoor all-American first team performer, she finished third or fourth in all four of her appearances highlighted by a pair of fourth place finishes in both long jump and triple jump as a senior in 2010. She won three indoor Mountain West titles and totaled six all-MW selections along with the 2008 High Point Award. She still owns the San Diego State indoor long jump record, ranks second in triple jump, and seventh in the 60m dash. She also ranks third in long jump and fifth in triple jump in the Mountain West record books.
A multis athlete from 2011-14, Allison Reaser (now Halverson) was a tremendous all-around talent for the Aztecs in the program's history. A 2014 indoor All-American, she won five indoor Mountain West titles which is tied for most by an Aztec in MW history, including three straight pentathlon championships. She is the only student-athlete in conference history, men or women, to win three multis titles in a MW career. In total, she was a seven-time indoor all-MW performer in her four seasons and earned the 2012 High Point Award. She ranks fifth in conference history for the pentathlon and owns three different top ten marks in the SDSU record books.
Shanieka Thomas (now Ricketts) is the second SDSU Hall of Famer on the 25th season team, joining as part of the 2019 induction class. One of the best jumpers in conference history, she was the 2014 indoor triple jump national champion after finishing as the runner-up in 2013. In her four years, she was a four-time all-American (three first team selections), three-time Mountain West triple jump champion, seven-time all-MW performer, and the 2013 MW Student-Athlete of the Year and Outstanding Performer. Her collegiate best of 14.08m (46-2.5) still ranks as the best triple jump mark in Mountain West history.
The Mountain West will also have a 25th Season Team for outdoor track and field announced later in the spring ahead of the conference outdoor championships.
Mountain West Indoor Track and Field 25th Season Team
1. Shelley Spires, Air Force
2. Emma Bates, Boise State
3. Alexis Fuller, Boise State
4. Alli Ostrander, Boise State
5. Lacey Bleazard, BYU
6. Amy Menlove, BYU
7. Lauren Gale, Colorado State
8. Lexie Keller, Colorado State
9. Loree Smith, Colorado State
10. Nicola Ader, Nevada
11. Weini Kelati, New Mexico
12. Ednah Kurgat, New Mexico
13. Bonnie Draxler, San Diego State
14. Ashley Henderson, San Diego State
15. Karoline Koehler, San Diego State
16. Allison Reaser, San Diego State
17. Shanieka Thomas (Ricketts), San Diego State
18. Whitney Gipson, TCU
19. Virgil Hodge, TCU
20. Michelle Davis, UNLV
21. Rosa Santana, UNLV
22. Destiny Smith-Barnett, UNLV
23. Chari Hawkins, Utah State
24. Jessica Fox, Wyoming
25. Shauna Smith, Wyoming