Indianapolis, Ind.----- San Jose State University distance runners Craig Huff, Jose Pina, Jennifer Sandoval and Jeanette Zambrano will represent the Spartans at the 2019 NCAA Preliminary Round Track & Field Championships, May 23-25.
The championship meet will be conducted at Hornet Stadium on the Sacramento State University campus.
The meet is the first of a two-stage NCAA Championship process. The top 48 athletes from schools in the Western United States will be competing in their respective events for the opportunity to advance to the NCAA Championships June 5-8, in Austin, Texas. The top-12 finishers in each event will advance to the meet in Austin, Texas.
"It is a huge honor to have student-athletes represent us on the national level against the best competition in the West. They worked very hard for this opportunity and we are excited to see them race in Sacramento," said San Jose State University director of track and field Kendra Reimer-Gonzales. "They've been racing in big competitions all season and they will be ready."
THE MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPION
Huff, the 2019 Mountain West 3000-meter steeplechase champion, is ranked #16 in the West in his specialty. His career best time is 8:47.52 run this season at the Stanford Invitational at the end of March. Number-two on the all-time San Jose State list, his most recent steeplechase was an 8:48.02 winning time at the conference meet in Fresno, Calif.
A senior from Huntington Beach, Calif., Huff will be competing in his second NCAA Preliminary Round Championship. A year ago, he placed 36th with a 9:03.88 time when a time of 8:45.70 was the #12 qualifying time.
A 10,000 FOR SURE & POSSIBLY A 5,000
Pina qualified in the 10,000 meters with his time of 29:12.11 at the Stanford Invitational, #27 among West Division runners. That time also is good for #4 on the San Jose State career top-10 list. He also is the first alternate in the 5,000 meters at this year meet.
A junior from San Jose, Calif., Pina also is in his second NCAA Preliminary Round Championship. In 2018 at Hornet Stadium, he ran a 30:37.05 and finished 41st. A 29:17.96 was the #12-qualifying time.
Sandoval and Zambrano qualified in two events each. For Sandoval, it is the 5000 and 10,000 meters. For Zambrano, she is in the 5000 and the 3000-meter steeplechase.
THIRD TIME A CHARM FOR SANDOVAL?
A junior from Fontana, Calif., Sandoval is competing in her third NCAA Preliminary Round Championship. Her qualifying time for the 2019 meet is a personal best 33:37.28 at the Stanford Invitational at the end of March. She is ranked as the #19-qualifier in the 10,000.
As a freshman, Sandoval was 34th in the 10,000 with a time of 36:25.87. In 2018, she ran a then-personal best 33:52.88 and finished 25th. The #12-qualifying time was 33:02.89.
Sandoval has a school record time in the 5,000 at 16:23.72. She is the #41-qualifier in the 5,000 meet.
Zambrano is right behind Sandoval in the 5,000 as the #42-qualifier. She has a career best 16:24.22 in the 5000.
THE STEEPLECHASE & THE 5,000 FOR ZAMBRANO
The junior from Garden Grove, Calif., specializes in the 3000-meter steeplechase. Her best time is a 10:10.28 from the 2019 Stanford Invitational in March and also is the #19th best qualifying mark in the race. Zambrano is in her second NCAA Preliminary Round meet in the steeplechase. She ran in the race a year ago, but did not finish the race.
"All four have had excellent seasons so far. All have run personal bests through the season, are set up to really well to maximize their potential at the first round of nationals, and place really high," said San Jose State distance coach Brad Wick, who noted the four Spartans are competing in either their second or third NCAA Preliminary Round meet.
"It will give them a sense of comfort knowing what to expect and knowing the caliber of competition. Hopefully, that will help them maximize their place at the meet."
MEET SCHEDULE (All times PDT)
Thursday, May 23
9:00 p.m. – Men's 10,000 meters – Jose Pina
9:40 p.m. – Women's 10,000 meters – Jennifer Sandoval
Friday, May 24
8:20 p.m. – Women's steeplechase – Jeanette Zambrano
9:00 p.m. – Men's steeplechase – Craig Huff
Saturday, May 25
8:05 p.m. – Women's 5,000 meters – Jennifer Sandoval, Jeanette Zambrano
8:45 p.m. – Men's 5,000 meters – Jose Pina, first alternate