April 4, 2014
San Francisco, Calif. - In the team's second ever competition, the San José State women's track and field team had three athletes lower their personal bests and two top-20 finishes at the San Francisco State Distance Festival on Friday at Cox Stadium.
"We competed really well," assistant coach Brad Wick. "I was especially pleased with Aylin (Mejia) and Melanie's (Fujiwara) 5k as well as Becca (Garcia's) Steeplechase. This another good step for us in the outside season."
Garcia lowered her personal best in the 3000m Steeplechase by more than 11 seconds from the Johnny Mathis Invitational just two weeks ago. She ran an 11:21.65 to finish in 15th place on Friday. Lalida Maokhamphiou crossed the line in 18th place with an 11:33.64, right on her time from the Johnny Mathis Invite on the same track.
Of the five Spartans that ran the 1500m, Jenay Jauregui, 80th, was the best placed. She finished in 5:08.88, trimming slightly less than nine seconds from her previous fastest time. Marissa Buckley also improved her best time by more than two seconds. She crossed the line in 5:11.36 in 84th place.
In their first races at 1500m, Allison Kimura ran a 5:13.08 (88th place); Breanna Garcia finished in 94th in 5:15.86 and Nina Sassano's 5:21.30 placed her 102nd.
The last event of the day for San José State was the 5000m. It was the first time on the track, at this distance, for each of the three Spartans who competed. Aylin Mejia ran a 17:28.48 and finished in 29th place. Melanie Fujiwara placed 70th with in 18:19.93 and Karina Nunes' 19:15.42 slotted her into 88th place.
On Saturday the event turns to shorter distances, including the sprints.
Five Spartans will be competing in the 100m, which is divided into seven heats.
Taylor Griffin and Madiha Raza are entered in the third heat. Raven Adams in the sixth and Joetta Hall and Madison Fowler will run in the seventh heat. First heat of the 100m is scheduled for 1:55 p.m.
In the final event for San José State, Griffin and Raza will run the 200m. There are nine heats beginning at 3:05 p.m. Griffin is scheduled in heat two and Raza in heat five.
Fans who cannot attend the meet can follow the action at http://redcaptiming.com/2014/sfdistance/.
San Francisco State Distance Festival
Cox Stadium, San Francisco, Calif.
April 4, 2014
1500m - 1. Elle Sanders, UCLA, 4:31.42, 2. Sabrina Seay, UCLA, 4:33.73, 3. Yesenai Silva, College of the Sequoias, 4:34.03. San José State: 80. Jenay Jauregui, 5:08.88, 84. Marissa Buckley, 5:11.36, 88. Allison Kimura, 5:13.08, 94. Breanna Garcia, 5:15.86, 102. Nina Sassano, 5:21.30
3000m Steeplechase - 1. Amy Schnittger, SRA 10:35.91, 2. Tori Parkinson, Utah State, 10:42.93, 3. Morgan Wedekind, Kansas State, 10:46.28. San José State: 15. Rebecca Garcia, 11:21.65. 18. Lalida Maokhamphiou, 11:33.64.
5000m - 1. Emily Myers, Nevada, 16:43.50, 2. Joyce Kipchumba, Alaska Anchorage, 16:44.97, 3. Jocelyn Caro, Texas Tech, 16:45.56. San José State: 29. Aylin Mejia, 17:28.48, 70. Melanie Fujiwara, 18:19.93, 88. Karina Nunes, 19:15.42