May 26, 2018
Sacramento, Calif.----- San Jose State University graduate Nicole Iloanya finished in 21st place in the women's triple jump on the last day of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships West Preliminary Round meet at Hornet Stadium.
The Spartans' final entry in the meet, Iloanya improved after each of her three attempts. She started out at 12.58 meters, improved to 12.68 meters on her second attempt and concluded her three jumps with a 12.79. None of her marks were wind-aided.
A mark of 13.11 meters was needed for the 12th and final qualifying position to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., June 6-9.
"They were really jumping today. Nicole would have needed a lifetime best to qualify. The weather was hot and the jumps were just as hot," said San Jose State University director of track and field Jeff Petersmeyer.
"It's not the end for Nicole. We redshirted her last year," Petersmeyer added about Iloanya who can use her final year of track and field eligibility as a 2018-19 Southern Methodist University first-year law school student. "We wish her the best."
The political science major was competing in her second NCAA Preliminary Round meet. She finished in 31st place in the triple jump as a freshman in 2015.
Nine of the 48 women's triple jumpers posted a lifetime best and five of them were unable to advance to the NCAA Championships in two weeks. Iloanya entered the NCAA West Preliminary Round meet with a lifetime best 12.96 at the 2018 Mountain West Championship where she finished second.
"It wasn't meant to be (for Nicole) and it's a little sad, because we close out Nicole, Kelsey (Johnson-Upshaw) and Cambree's (Harbaugh) career today. They've meant everything to us and the program. I couldn't be more proud of our senior class," said Petersmeyer.
San Jose State's track and field season does continue in Eugene, Ore., at Hayward Field with sophomore long jumper Destiny Longmire as the first Spartan women's track and field athlete competing in a NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship in the five-year history of the program.
2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships West Preliminary Round
Hornet Stadium, Sacramento, Calif.
May 26 San Jose State results only
Women's triple jump -- 21, Nicole Iloanya, 12.79m.
May 25 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.
May 24 San Jose State results only
Women's long jump -- 6, Destiny Longmire, 6.13m (w). 30, Cambree Harbaugh, 5.77m.
Men's 10,000 meters -- 41, Jose Piña, 30:37.05.
Women's 10,000 meters -- 25, Jennifer Sandoval, 33:52.88, new school record. Old school record, 34:03.65 by Sandoval, March 30, 2018.