Clovis, Calif.----- Three season bests, two of them by the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay teams running together for the first time this season, highlighted San Jose State University's final day at the 2019 Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championship.
It was a busy and successful day for sprinters Aidan Jardon and Dominic Tanner. Jardon, the men's team captain, ran in the 4x100 relay, the 400-meter final and the anchor leg of the 4x400 relay. He finished a non-scoring ninth in the 400 meter final, ran the third leg of the 4x100 and had enough in him to finish San Jose State's 4x400 relay.
Tanner placed eighth in the 400 meter final for one point in the team standings, ran the second leg of the 4x100 relay, and the opening leg of the 4x400 relay. The 4x400 relay team that included Peter Handy and Jeffrey Page running the middle two legs was timed in 3:16.66 and was awarded third-place for the top Spartan finish of the day. New Mexico, which crossed the finish line ahead of San Jose State, was disqualified.
The 4x100 meter relay team of Brendan Manigo, Tanner, Jardon and Michael Harris III easily turned in San Jose State's best time in the event this season. The Spartan quartet finished sixth, 1.6 seconds faster the team's previous season's best of 43.84 from the Hornet Invitational in March.
Freshman Edgar Bonilla turned in San Jose State's third season best and his personal best in the 1500 meters with a time of 3:52.06. His time was more than three seconds faster than his previous season best of 3:55.17 and the fastest 1,500 by a Spartan this season. He finished 13th in the race.
The combination of Tanner in the individual 400 and the performances of the two relay teams pushed San Jose State past Fresno State into seventh place in the eight-team standings. In the Spartans' first conference championship meet in 31 years, San Jose State finished with 20 points. Mountain West steeplechase champion Craig Huff accounted for 10 of the team's 20 points with his victory on May 10.
Colorado State won the team championship with 224 points. Air Force was second with 171 followed by Utah State with 137.
Huff in the steeplechase and Jose Pina in the 10,000 are projected to compete at the NCAA First Round Championship Meet in Sacramento, Calif., May 23-25.
San Jose State University Men's Track & Field
Mountain West Outdoor Championship
Clovis, Calif.
May 11, 2019
Day 3 of 3
Team scores – 1, Colorado State, 224; 2, Air Force, 171; 3, Utah State, 137; 4, New Mexico, 92; 5, Boise State, 81; 6, Wyoming, 78; 7, San Jose State, 20; 8, Fresno State, 13.
4x100 relay final – 1, Air Force, 40.47; 2, Colorado State, 40.64; 3, Utah State, 41.21. 4, New Mexico, 41.46; 5, Wyoming, 42.13; 6, San Jose State (Brendan Manigo, Dominic Tanner, Aidan Jardon, Michael Harris III), 42.24; 7, Fresno State, 43.28.
1500 meters final (15 participants) – 1, Michael Wilson, New Mexico, 3:46.80. San Jose State entry – 13, Edgar Bonilla, 3:52.06.
400 meters final – 1, Sedacy Waldon, Air Force, 47.23. San Jose State finishers – 8, Dominic Tanner, 50.35. 9, Aidan Jardon, 51.17.
5000 meters final – 1, Elijah Armstrong, Boise State, 14:03.76. San Jose State entries – 18, Jose Pina, 14:48.43. NP, Huruy Zeratsion, did not finish.
4x400 relay final – 1, Air Force, 3:11.48; 2, Colorado State, 3:16.19; 3, San Jose State (Dominic Tanner, Peter Handy, Jeffrey Page, Aidan Jardon), 3:16.66; 4, Fresno State, 3:18.32; 5, Utah State, 3:18.57; 6, Boise State, 3:18.83; 7, Wyoming, 3:19.70. New Mexico, disqualified.