KINGSTON, Jamaica – San Diego State Hall of Famer, Shanieka Ricketts (Thomas), qualified for the Paris Olympics over the weekend with her performance in triple jump at the JAAA/Puma National Championships.
With a leap of 47-7 (14.50m), Ricketts claimed her sixth national title in the event to punch her ticket to Paris for the 2024 Olympics that begin later this month. Her mark was two and a half inches better than the runner-up.
A native of St. Andrew, Jamaica, it will be her third Olympic appearance with the Jamaican National Team also qualifying in 2016 (Rio de Janeiro) and 2021 (Tokyo). In 2021, she just missed out on the podium finishing fourth place at 48-8.25 (14.84m).
The women’s triple jump qualification round will take place on August 2 with the finals taking place the following day on August 3.
Other SDSU Olympic Trial Competitors
Ricketts was one of five Aztecs competing at Olympic Trials over the last week and a half. Current SDSU athletes, Xiamara Young (USA) and Shaquena Foote (Jamaica) also competed as well as alum, Kristen Brown (USA) and Danae Dyer (USA).
Young reached the triple jump finals after a jump of 43-0.25 (13.11m) in the preliminary round. In the final, she matched her personal best mark of 44-4 (13.51m) to claim fifth place and finish as the top collegiate athlete at the U.S. trials.
Dyer finished 16th in the 100m hurdle prelims at 13.02 seconds to move onto the semifinals. In the semifinal race, her time of 13.08 seconds was good for 17th place.
In pole vault, Brown cleared 14-3.25 (4.35m) on her first attempt but missed at the next height of 4.50m. She finished 15th overall in the field, just outside of a finals qualifying placement.
At the JAAA/Puma National Championships, Foote qualified for the 400m finals with a time of 51.62 in the prelims. In Sunday’s final, she crossed the line in 53.16 seconds to finish eighth.