Shaquena Foote Sets MW and SDSU Record in 400 Meters at NCAA West First Round

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Shaquena Foote set a Mountain West and San Diego State record in the 400 meters to lead the Aztec track and field team at the NCAA West First Round Thursday night at E.B. Cushing Stadium in College Station, Texas.

Foote ran a time of 50.95 seconds, shaving off 0.20 seconds from the previous record set by SDSU hall of famer Tonette Dyer (51.15) in 2004. The 50.95 was tied for the third-fastest time out of the 48 first round qualifiers and easily advanced her to Saturday’s quarterfinal rounds.

Charlize James and Anna Mager also advanced in the hurdles events. James came in fourth in the 100 hurdles in 13.32 seconds just ahead of sixth-place teammate Jada Pierre (13.46). The 13.32 was good enough to qualify for Saturday’s quarterfinals as one of the next six-fastest times among those who didn’t finish in the top 3 of their heat. James’ time was 21st out of the 48 qualifiers, while Pierre’s 13.46 was 30th.

Mager, meanwhile, automatically made it out of the 400 hurdles by finishing third in the opening heat in 58.64. It matched her San Diego State personal best, which is the 10th-fastest time in program history.

In the Aztecs’ lone field event, Pavana Nagaraj was 26th out of 48 in the long jump with a leap of 20 feet, 1 inch (6.12 meters). Nagaraj would’ve had to finish in the top 12 to qualify for the NCAA Finals in Eugene, Oregon, in two weeks. The last qualifying mark was 20-10.50 (6.36m).

In the 800, Lauren Harper (2:07.73) and Sophia Wolf (2:10.42) did not move on to the quarterfinals after placing 30th and 39th, respectively. Pierre also competed in the 100, coming in 45th in a wind-aided 11.68.

The 4x100-meter relay kicks things off for SDSU on Saturday. Both Foote and Pierre are in the 4x100-relay pool, along with Olivia Hicks, Aji Mbye and Mikaela Warr. San Diego State is ranked 16th in the west region in 44.29 and will need to finish among the top 12 to advance to Eugene.

The 100 hurdles quarterfinal for James is set for 6:15 p.m. CT (4:15 p.m. PT), while Foote runs the 400 at 6:50 p.m. CT (4:50 p.m. PT) and Mager the 400 hurdles at 7:25 p.m. CT (5:25 p.m. PT). Like the relay, the Aztecs will need to finish among the top 12 to advance to Eugene.  

2025 NCAA West First Round
May 29, 2025
E.B. Cushing Stadium - College Station, Texas

No Team Scores 

Individual/Relay Results
100 Meters (out of 48 qualifiers; Top 3 from each heat plus next 3 fastest times advance to NCAA West Quarterfinals on Saturday)
1. Dajaz Defrand (USC) - 11.00q
45. Jada Pierre (San Diego State) - 11.68w

400 Meters (out of 48 qualifiers; Top 3 from each heat plus next 3 fastest times advance to NCAA West Quarterfinals on Saturday)
1. Yemi John (USC) - 50.79q
T3. Shaquena Foote (San Diego State) - 50.95q (Mountain West & SDSU Record)

800 Meters (out of 48 qualifiers; Top 3 from each heat plus next 3 fastest times advance to NCAA West Quarterfinals on Saturday)
1. Makayla Clark (Iowa) - 2:03.31q
30. Lauren Harper (San Diego State) - 2:07.73
39. Sophia Wolf (San Diego State) - 2:10.42

100-Meter Hurdles (out of 48 qualifiers; Top 3 from each heat plus next 3 fastest times advance to NCAA West Quarterfinals on Saturday)
1. Aaliyah McCormick (Oregon) - 12.82q
21. Charlize James (San Diego State) - 13.32q
30. Jada Pierre (San Diego State) - 13.46

400-Meter Hurdles (out of 48 qualifiers; Top 3 from each heat plus next 3 fastest times advance to NCAA West Quarterfinals on Saturday)
1. Akala Garrett (Texas) - 55.87q
23. Anna Mager (San Diego State) - 58.64q

Long Jump (out of 48 qualifiers; top 12 advance to NCAA Finals in Eugene, Oregon)
1. Alexis Brown (Baylor) - 22-09.25 (6.94m)q
26. Pavana Nagaraj (San Diego State) - 20-01.00 (6.12m)