Three school records in one day, two of them within 30 minutes of each other in the 5,000 meters, highlighted the busy weekend for the San Jose State University women's track and field program.
Hammer thrower Silvia Gutierrez was the first San Jose State competitor to break a school record over the weekend with her 170-foot-0 third-place mark at the Cardinal Classic on April 19. Gutierrez bettered her previous school record of 164-feet-0 set the opening weekend of the outdoor season at the Aggie Open in Davis, Calif.
Distance runners Jeanette Zambrano and Jennifer Sandoval traded off ownership of the 5,000 meters school record at the Cobb Track on the Stanford University campus later that evening. Running under nearly perfect conditions, Zambrano won her heat with a school record time of 16:24.72 pulling away from a field of 15 runners.
"I feel like I ran a smart race. I could have gone faster in the beginning, but, no, I needed to wait. So, I waited a little bit and then I started kicking close to the end," said Zambrano, whose previous best in the 5,000 was 17:36.42.
"I haven't run this event in a long time. I think the last time I ran it was in my sophomore year (2017). I kind of expected to get a PR, but I didn't expect to get that big of a PR. It was awesome," the mathematics major from Garden Grove, Calif., added.
At least until Sandoval crossed the finish line in the second 5,000 meters heat, Zambrano was the San Jose State record holder in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, which she considers her best race, and the 5,000.
Sandoval, who held the Spartan record going into the weekend at 16:35.66 set at the 2018 Mountain West Championships, regained the top spot on the 5000 list with a 16:23.72, 0.5 seconds faster than Zambrano and nearly 12 seconds better than her previous best.
The Spartans were spread out from the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate meet at Long Beach State, Thursday, April 18, to the Cardinal Classic hosted by Stanford on April 19 & 20, and to the 61st annual Mt. SAC Relays at El Camino College in Torrance.
Three more Spartans notched personal bests over the weekend. Running at the Cardinal Classic, Camilla Hanson lowered her best time in the 1500 to 4:39.07. Sprinter Daja Johnson posted a 12.39 in the 100 in a heat at the Mt. SAC Relays, 0.09 faster than her previous best of 12.48 at the Woody Wilson Classic on April 13.
Hurdler Diamond Tabron competed in the 400 hurdles both at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate at Long Beach State and at the Mt. SAC Relays and came away with season bests in each meet. After a then-season best 1:04.83 at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiates, she bettered that mark with a 1:04.34 at the Mt. SAC Relays.
San Jose State closes out its invitational season next weekend at the Brutus Hamilton Challenge hosted by Cal at Edwards Stadium, April 26 & 27.
Pacific Coast Intercollegiate track & field meet
Jack Rose Track, Long Beach, Calif.
April 18, 2019
San Jose State events only
Women's 100 meters (27 entries) – 1, Jerayah Davis, Wyoming, 11.61. San Jose State entry – 20, Daja Johnson, 12.86.
Women's 400 hurdles (18 entries) – 1, De'Andreah Young, CSUN, 58.90. San Jose State entry – 12, Diamond Tabron, 1:04.83.
Cardinal Classic track & field meet
Cobb Track & Angell Field, Stanford, Calif.
April 19 & 20, 2019
San Jose State events only
April 19, 2019
Women's hammer throw (six entries) – 1, Elisa Grandemange, Colorado, 192-feet-6 (58.67m). San Jose State entry – 3, Silvia Gutierrez, 170-feet-0, (new school record, old school record, 164-feet-0, by Silvia Gutierrez, March 9, 2019).
Women's 800 meters (Section 3, six entries) – 1, Eliza McCall, Nevada, 2:11.79. San Jose State entry – 6, Mikayla Akers, 2:14.14.
Women's 5000 meters (Section 2, 15 entries) – 1, Jeanette Zambrano, San Jose State, 16:24.22. 2, Claire Manley, Gonzaga, 16:36.35. 3, Marrissa Ferrante, Pdc, 16:37.30.
Women's 5000 meters (Section 1, 17 entries) – 1, Isobel Batt-Doyle, Washington, 15:43.33. San Jose State finisher – 12, Jennifer Sandoval, 16:23.72 (new school record, old record by Jeanette Zambrano, 16:24.22, April 19, 2019).
April 20, 2019
Women's pole vault (10 entries) – 1, Kaitlyn Merritt, Stanford, 13-feet-9.25 (4.20m). San Jose State entry – 7, Eseta Finau, 11-feet-5.25 (3.49m).
Women's 100 meters (Seven entries) – 1, Ashlan Best, Stanford, 11.73. San Jose State entry – 7, Alicia Johnson, 13.18.
Women's 1500 meters (Section 4 – nine entries) – 1, Olivia Brooks, Colorado, 4:32.06. 2, Savanna Perez, San Jose State, 4:38.24. 3, Ally Legard, Gonzaga, 4:38.97. 4, Camilla Hanson, San Jose State, 4:39.07.
Women's 3000 meter steeplechase (16 entries) – 1, Gabrielle Jennings, Furman, 9:57.41. San Jose State entry – 13, Kai Bohannon, 10:50.25.
61st annual Mt. SAC Relays
El Camino College, Torrance, Calif.
April 18, 2019
Women's 10,000 meters (47 entries) – 1, Camilla Richardson, Finland, 33:08.26. San Jose State entry – 25, Evelin Meza, 35:03.67.
April 19, 2019
Women's 100 meters (42 entries) – 1, Anglerne Annelus, USC, 11.28. San Jose State entry – 37, Deja Johnson, 12.39.
Women's 1500 meters (12 entries) – 1, Fiana Kumm, Prado Racing, 4:31.69. San Jose State entry 7, Savanna Perez, 4:38.68.
Women's 400 meter hurdles (31 entries) – 1, Paola Moran, unattached, 57.48. San Jose State entry – 26, Diamond Tabron, 1:04.34.
