May 25, 2018
Sacramento, Calif.----- It was a night of hurdles for three San Jose State University athletes at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships West Preliminary Round meet.
Unlike the opening night on May 24 when sophomore Destiny Longmire became the first San Jose State female to qualify for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in school history, none of the Spartans were as fortunate at Hornet Stadium on the Sacramento State campus.
Brittany Brown finished 35th in the 100-meter hurdles with a 13.88 time. The first-year Spartan junior from Pittsburg, Calif., was sixth in her heat. A time of 13.65 qualified for the May 26 quarterfinal round of 24 runners. There were 48 competitors including the San Jose State school record holder looking to advance to the next round.
"She got off to a really good start and the girl from Texas to her right had a hard fall next to her around hurdle #5. Brittany was the same. She might have been a little rattled and didn't advance (to Saturday's quarterfinals)," said San Jose State director of track and field Jeff Petersmeyer about the Spartans' school record holder in the event.
"Still, she finished off a fantastic first year with us. I'm really excited about the coming years with her."
Craig Huff, a junior from Huntington Beach, Calif., posted a time of 9:03.88 in the men's steeplechase. He finished 12th out of 16 in his heat and 36th overall. A time of 8:44.45 was needed to advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., June 6-9.
"Craig ran a really tough race. He's been battling some injuries. He's going to come back stronger next year and this will not be a novel experience for him. He knows what he has to do and he can run right up there with the leaders next year," Petersmeyer said.
"The leaders (in his heat) went out a little slow. Once they aid the hammer down on the last few laps, it was tougher to stay up there."
Jeanette Zambrano, a junior from Garden Grove, Calif., rounded out the Spartans' night in the women's steeplechase. She withdrew from her heat after completing six of the eight laps.
"She had been bothered by some late-season injuries and we didn't know quite what to expect. We'll go back and get her ready for cross country season. She had a fantastic full year of cross country, indoor and outdoor track," Petersmeyer said about the San Jose State record holder in the steeplechase.
The Spartans conclude their NCAA Championship meet action Saturday, May 26, with Nicole Iloanya in the women's triple jump starting at 4:30 p.m. Most recently, Iloanya set a new school record in the triple jump with her 12.96 to finish second at the Mountain West Championships.
NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships West Preliminary Round
Hornet Stadium, Sacramento, Calif.
May 25, 2018
San Jose State results only
Women's 100-meter hurdles -- 35, Brittany Brown, 13.88.
Men's 3,000 meter steeplechase -- 36, Craig Huff, 9:03.88.
Women's 3,000 meter steeplechase -- NP, Jeanette Zambrano, did not finish.