Track and Field Opens Competition at Don Kirby Elite Invitational

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – San Diego State track and field began their weekend in New Mexico with seventeen Aztecs competing on the first day of the Don Kirby Elite Invitational on Friday.

Anna Mager entered the SDSU indoor record book in the 400m dash. The junior from Austria improved on her personal best for the third consecutive meet, crossing the line in 54.50 seconds. The time ranks ninth in program indoor history and was good for second place in the field.

Xiamara Young added another record to her list of SDSU accomplishments, leaping a season best 6.17m (20-3) in long jump. Her mark tied the school’s sophomore class record. She reached the event finals and finished tied for sixth overall, just one position behind teammate Hannah Waller who jumped 6.21m (20-4.5) for fifth. Pavana Nagaraj just missed out on the finals, finishing ninth overall with a personal best jump of 5.92m (19-5.25).

The 200m was good for the Aztecs at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Shaquena Foote was the fastest for the Scarlet and Black, matching her PR and third-ranked time in program history at 23.22 seconds. She finished third in the invitational section. Aji Mbye also ran in the invite portion, crossing the line with a season best 24.05 in 11th. Four Aztecs raced in the unseeded 200m led by Olivia Hicks’ personal best time of 24.11 seconds. She was 12th in the field of 101 runners. Charlize James (24.27), Laraigh Allen (24.41) and Mikaela Warr (25.40) also recorded PRs.

Nagaraj also PR’d in high jump, clearing 1.62m (5-3.75) while Maya Gorman recorded a PR in long jump (18-7.75) and Lidia Major ran a personal best 56.11 in the unseeded 400m.

San Diego State will finish their first of back-to-back trips to New Mexico tomorrow afternoon at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The field events start at 8 a.m. PT (9 a.m. MT) and the track events start at 8:30 a.m. PT (9:30 a.m. MT).

Don Kirby Elite Invitational Results (winner + SDSU only)
200m Dash (invite)
1. Niesha Burgher (UTEP) – 22.39
3. Shaquena Foote – 23.22 (matches PR)
11. Aji Mbye – 24.05 (season best)

200m Dash (unseeded)
1. Peyton Garrison (Montana State) – 23.42
12. Olivia Hicks – 24.11 (PR)
21. Charlize James – 24.27 (PR)
22. Laraigh Allen – 24.41 (PR)
67. Mikaela Warr – 25.40 (first collegiate 200m)

400m Dash (unseeded)
1. Blossom Omogor (Idaho) – 54.30
2. Anna Mager – 54.50 (ninth all-time)
25. Lidia Major – 56.11 (PR)
34. Takiyah Blue – 56.64

Pole Vault B section
1. Lydia Stuart (Louisville)
6. Jordan Leveque – 12’ 4.75”
15. Kayla Tassara – 11’ 10.75

Pole Vault C section
1. Emily Adams (Colorado State) –12’ 1.5” (first attempt)
T5. Peyton Bedrosian – 12’ 1.5” (third attempt)

High Jump
1. Dede Norman (Oregon State) – 5’ 9.75”
1. Lexi Hunt (Oregon State) – 5’ 9.75”
1. Soledad Jean (Louisville) – 5’ 9.75”
28. Pavana Nagaraj – 5’ 3.75” (PR)
32. Maya Gorman – 5’ 1.75”

Long Jump
1. Alyssa Jones (Stanford) – 21’ 5.25”
4. Hannah Waller – 20’ 4.5”
5. Xiamara Young – 20’ 3” (matched SDSU sophomore record)
9. Pavana Nagaraj – 19’ 5.25” (PR)
20. Jenna Fee Feyerabend – 18’ 8.75”
23. Maya Gorman – 18’ 7.75” (PR)