Albuquerque, N.M.----- Jennifer Sandoval's second top-10 finish in the 5000 meters in consecutive years and Savanna Perez's 800-meter run were the San Jose State University women's team highlights on the second day of the Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Sandoval was eighth in the 24-woman field with a time of 17:39.33. A year ago, she was ninth. Her finish resulted in the Spartans' first point of the championship in the team scoring format.
San Jose State also got a tenth place finish in the 5,000 from freshman Evelin Meza who was clocked in 17:41.16 in her first 5,000 of the indoor season. The race winner was Air Force's Maria Mettler, who ran a 17:09.45.
In the 800, Perez clocked a personal-best 2:13.07, finished first in her heat and posted the fourth fastest qualifying time for the February 23 final. Her previous best in the 800 this season was a 2:21.03 in the King Collegiate Invitational meet on January 18.
"I am proud that our women came out and competed hard today. We had a lot of personal best performances in a high pressured, competitive meet. Our women gave their best efforts and continue to make improvements," said Kendra Reimer-Gonzales, San Jose State University's director of track and field.
Junior Silvia Gutierrez was the only other Spartan competing in a final event during the day. Gutierrez placed 20th in the weight throw with a heave of 47-feet-7.25.
San Jose State also had preliminary race entries in the mile run, 60 and 400-meter dashes and 60-meter hurdles. Camilla Hanson turned in a season-best in the mile run with her 5:19.11, just over 16 seconds better than her season-opening 5:35.83 in the King Collegiate Invitational.
Jayla Williams' 8.77 in the 60-hurdles was a season-best and just shy of her 8.73 at the 2018 Mountain West Indoor Championships. She finished 12th overall in the preliminary round.
FloTrack will provide final day streaming coverage of the Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championship.
2019 Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Championship
Convention Center, Albuquerque, N.M.
February 22, 2019
Day 2 of 3 Results
Team scores – 1, Colorado State, 60. 2, San Diego State, 31. 3, Utah State, 25. 4, Wyoming, 22. 5, Fresno State, 17. 6, tie, Boise State. New Mexico, and UNLV, 14. 9, Air Force, 11. 10, Nevada, 10. 11, San Jose State, 1.
Women's Weight Throw final (21 entries) – 1, Kelcey Bedard, Colorado State, 21.21 meters (69-feet-7). San Jose State finisher – 20, Silvia Gutierrez, 14.51 meters (47-feet-7.25).
Women's mile run preliminaries (20 entries) – 1, Weini Kelati, New Mexico, 4:42.26, new Mountain West Championship meet record. San Jose State finisher – 19, Camilla Hanson, 5:19.11.
Women's 60 meters preliminaries (21 entries) – 1, Destiny Smith-Barnes, UNLV, 7.15. San Jose State finishers – 19, Daja Johnson, 7.91. 21, Nyana Wright, 8,63.
Women's 60 meter hurdles preliminaries – 1, Destinee Rocker, Colorado State, 8.22. San Jose State finishers – 12, Jayla Williams, 8.77. 16, Diamond Tabron, 9.07.
Women's 400 meters preliminaries (29 entries) – 1, Lauren Gale, Colorado State, 54.49. San Jose State finishers – 18, Sarahvaughn King, 57.40.
Women's 800 meters preliminaries (25 entries) – 1, Avi'Tai Wilson Perteete, UNLV, 2:11.00. 2, Jasmyne Cooper, Wyoming, 2:11.02. 3, Elisa Rovere, UNLV, 2:11.89. 3, 4, Savanna Perez, 2:13.07. More San Jose State finishers – 18, Mikayla Akers, 2:20.29.
Women's 5,000 meters final (24 entries) – 1, Maria Mettler, Air Force, 17:09.45. San Jose State finishers – 8, Jennifer Sandoval, 17:39.33. 10, Evelin Meza, 17:41.16.