The San Diego State track and field team won six events at the Long Beach Invitational held this past Friday and Saturday. Freshman jumper Simone Johnson cleared 42-03.50 to earn Mountain West Conference Field Athlete of the Week honors. She now holds the second-best mark in the MWC.
The Aztecs had an athlete win four of six events on day one and two events on day two. This was not a team event and scores did not count towards a team total.
Multiple athletes set new personal records. Some athletes have now won multiple times this season and some have won in consecutive weeks.
Day 1 notables
Junior runner Nyjari McNeil won the 800-meter for the second week in a row. McNeil ran a season-best time of 2:10.00, just in front of sophomore runner Lauren Harper in second place with a time of 2:12.87.
Sophomore long-distance runner Jessica Kain backed up her win in the 3,000m two weeks ago, with a win in the 1,500m at the Long Beach Invitational with a time of 4:31.33. Her third win of the season, and her second in the 1,500m. Kain’s teammate, senior Emily Burd, finished in second with a personal best time of 4:35.79.
Junior thrower Jordyn Bryant continues her impressive season, winning both the discus (171-4) and shot put (47-11.75). This was Bryant’s sixth first-place finish of the season, two in the discus and four in shot put.
Day 2 notables
Johnson’s second-place finish in the triple jump was the highlight of the second day. Johnson cleared 42-03.50, good for the fourth-best jump in school history, and half an inch off of national champion Shanieka Thomas’ SDSU freshman record.
Senior hurdler Maya Brosch won the 400m hurdles race with a time of 1:00.25 followed by freshman Rhea Hoyte in second place, with a personal-best time of 1:01.84. Brosch has finished first in all four of the 400m hurdles races she has competed in this season.
Senior pole vaulter Kaitlin Heri finished in first after clearing 13-03.50, Heri’s fourth win in five meets. Sophomore Elizabeth Funk (12-11.50) took second followed by freshman Kaitlyn Swenson (12-05.50) and junior Delaney Fields (11-05.75) to round out the top four.
In the high jump, junior Jade Cany and freshman Thalia Wilson tied for second, clearing 5-05.00. For Wilson, it was a personal best.
The Aztecs’ next meet will take place on April 30 and May 1 at the UC Riverside-Long Beach State Invitational.
