RENO, NEV. –San Diego State Track and Field was busy on the second day of the Mountain West Indoor Championships competing in six different events. The Aztecs earned their second medal of the weekend while also having a trio of sprinters qualify for Saturday’s finals.
As has been the case all season, Xiamara Young was dominant in her first appearance at the championship meet. The junior from Las Vegas entered the weekend as the favorite in the long jump. She would first qualify for the finals with a solid 6.27m jump on her third attempt placing herself firmly in the lead. Yet, it would be her fourth attempt of the day that would not only secure her a gold medal but place her amongst the best jumpers in SDSU history. Young would post a massive personal best of 6.50m that moved her into second all-time in the record books.
On the track freshman Shari Hurdman led San Diego State in the 400-meter dash. She would win her heat in convincing fashion by running a personal best of 54.02. She also moved into the Aztec’s top 10 all-time with the fifth fastest time in the indoor record books. The duo of Kelia Bentham and Aji Mbye also qualified for the finals on Saturday, this time competing in the 60-meter dash. Bentham submitted a personal best of 7.43 and was one of two freshmen to advance. Mbye earned a win in the fourth heat of the evening running 7.39, the second fastest time by an Aztec this season. Both sprinters will race in the finals for the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes tomorrow.
The final day of the championships is scheduled to begin tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. PST. The Aztecs will look to earn more medals in the finals of the 60, 200 and 400- meter dashes. The duo of Young and Alyssa Alumbres will return to the jumping pits to compete in the triple jump where both are seeded among the top five. Lastly, the Aztec’s 4x400 relay team will race to earn their spot on the podium as well. All events will be streamed live on the Mountain West Network.
Individual Results
Long Jump
1. Xiamara Young-6.50m (Gold Medalist, PR, #2 SDSU All-Time)
26. Giselle Galles-5.29m
400-Meter Dash Prelims
6. Shari Hurdman-54.02 (Qualified for Finals, PR, Tied #5 SDSU All-Time)
10. Anna Mager-54.84
15. Laraigh Allen-55.51
19. Takiyah Blue-55.92
21. Lidia Major-55.94
60-Meter Dash Prelims
4. Aji Mbye-7.39 (Qualified for Finals)
5. Kelia Bentham-7.43 (Qualified for Finals, PR)
9. Mikaela Warr-7.52
12. Taylor Anyansi-7.54
13. Olivia Hicks-7.55
800-Meter Run Prelims
16. Ginger Oberg-2:12.94
23. Sara Jones-2:14.45
28. Karina Janik-2:16.68