May 16, 2014
Laramie, Wyo. - Three San José State sprinters set personal bests as the Spartans women's track and field team wrapped up its first day of competition at the 2014 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex.
"It was cold and windy today, but that is what you expect in Wyoming," head coach Jeff Petersmeyer said of the temperature, which hovered around 50 degrees all day. "Several of our athletes, Lalida (Maokhamphiou) and Aylin (Mejia) along with the sprinters all had good efforts today. We keep improving each time we compete."
Each of the three Spartans who were entered in the 100 Meters; Madiha Raza, Joetta Hall, Jennifer Topps set a season-best time. Raza, the best-placed San José State sprinter, crossed the line in 13.18, seven one-hundredths of a second quicker that her fasted time this year. Hall trimmed six one-hundredths off her season best with a 14.51 and Topps' 16.50 was 12 one-hundredths swifter than she has run in 2014.
San José State's largest contingent of runners in a single event was in the 1500 Meters, where seven athletes competed. Marissa Buckley led the team with a 5:26.17. Karina Nunes (5:32.39), Allison Kimura (5:34.11) and Nina Sassano (5:36.04) were the next three to cross the finish line. Jenay Jauregui ran a 5:45.44. Diana Orozco, in her first time at the distance, finished with a 5:47.37 and Breanna Garcia rounded out the Spartans entries with a 6:04.27.
The Steeplechase saw Lalida Maokhamphiou finish with a top-10 time of 12:27.52. Rebecca Garcia was next to cross the line in 12:38.22.
In the last event of the day, Aylin Mejia ran the first 10,000 Meters of her collegiate track career and had a top-15 finish at 40:07.75.
In the only event the Spartans will compete in on Saturday, Maokhamphiou, Garcia, Mejia and Melanie Fujiwara are scheduled to run in the 5000 Meters.
2014 Mountain West Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex - Laramie, Wyo.
May 16, 2014
Day 3 Results
100 Meters - 1. Meritzer Williams (SDSU) 11:58, 2. Kereston Thomas (WYO) 11.64, 3. Erin Morris (UNLV) 11.90 San José State: 20. Madiha Raza 13.18, 21. Joetta Hall 14.51, 22. Jennifer Topps 16.50
1500 Meters - 1. Charlotte Arter (UNM) 4:44.04, 2. Emma Bates (BSU) 4:49.03, 3. Tamara Armoush (UNM) 4:44.47 San José State: 19. Marissa Buckley 5:26.17, 20. Karina Nunes 5:32.39, 21. Allison Kimura 5:34.11, 22. Nina Sassano 5:36.04, 24. Jenay Jauregui 5:45.44, 25. Diana Orozco 5:47.37, 26. Breanna Garcia 6:04.27
Steeplechase - 1. Marisa Howard (BSU) 10:50.28, 2. Audra DeStefano (WYO) 10:57.51, 3. Kaitlin Hanenburg (CSU) 11:04.81 San José State: 10. Lalida Maokhamphiou 12:27.52, 11. Rebecca Garcia 12:38.22
10,000 Meters - 1. Rachael Rudel (CSU) 37:55.26, 2. Erin McLaughlin (BSU) 38:02.56, 3. Emily Myers (NEV) 38:15.03 San José State: 15. Aylin Mejia 40:07.75