FULLERTON, Calif. -- Lauren Harper took second in both the 800 and 1,500 meters, and Samantha Wood ran the fourth-best time in program history in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to pace the San Diego State track and field team in its outdoor opener Friday night at the Ben Brown Invitational in Fullerton, California.
Harper, who just missed a medal in the 800 in a fourth-place effort at last weekend’s Mountain West Indoor Championships, began her day with a runner-up finish in the 1,500 with a time of 4 minutes, 29.40 seconds (4:29.40). Out of 57 entrants, she was only beaten by former Aztec Alex Lomeli’s 4:25.26. Harper later came in second in the 800 out of 64 in 2:10.66, just behind Valor Track Club’s Samantha Huerta (2:10.40).
Wood, meanwhile, made an impressive debut in the steeplechase, taking second in 10:53.65 for the fourth-fastest time in school history.
Vanessa Cabello took seventh in the 5,000 out of 73 runners in 16:53.6 for SDSU’s other top-10 finish.
Sara Jones doubled in the 800 (30th, 2:21.99) and 1,500 (17th, 4:46.16), and Maddie Heller (15th, 17:14.39) and Isabella Fauria (21st, 4:48.66) also finished in the top 25 in the 5K and 1,500, respectively.
Shaquena Foote (400) and Jenna Fee Feyerabend (pentathlon) wrap up the indoor season at the NCAA Championships, March 14-15, at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The outdoor season resumes as San Diego State plays host to the Aztec Invitational (March 21-22) and the Shelia Burrell Aztec Heptathlon/Decathlon (March 27-28) in consecutive weekends.
Ben Brown Invitational
March 7, 2025
Titan Track Complex
No Team Scores
Individual/Relay Results
800 Meters (out of 64 entrants)
1. Samantha Huerta (Valor Track Club) - 2:10.40
2. Lauren Harper (San Diego State) - 2:10.66
30. Sara Jones (San Diego State) - 2:21.99
49. Tatum Zinkin (San Diego State) - 2:28.18
1,500 Meters (out of 57 entrants)
1. Alex Lomeli (Unattached) - 4:25.26
2. Lauren Harper (San Diego State) - 4:29.40
17. Sara Jones (San Diego State) - 4:46.16
21. Isabella Fauria (San Diego State) - 4:48.66
5,000 Meters (out of 73 entrants)
1. Ava Dyck (California Baptist) - 16:18.74
7. Vanessa Cabello (San Diego State) - 16:53.60
15. Maddie Heller (San Diego State) - 17:14.39
33. Presley Bennett (San Diego State) - 17:52.09
52. Maddie Parrone (San Diego State) - 18:38.39
3,000-Meter Steeplechase (out of 8 entrants)
1. Kelsie Yamano (UC San Diego) - 10:42.30
2. Samantha Wood (San Diego State) - 10:53.65 (No. 4 all-time at San Diego State)
Lauren Harper Leads Aztecs at Ben Brown Invitational
Harper takes second in both the 800 and 1,500, while Samantha Wood runs the fourth-best steeplechase in program history.
