By Stephen ChupasakaStaff Writer
San Diego State’s first track meet of the season didn’t feel likea home meet.
The Aztec Track and Field Classic, held Saturday at SDSUSportsDeck, was visited by a cold, persistent wind that swept acrossMontezuma Mesa.
But no matter how peculiar the weather, the Aztecs were intentupon putting on an excellent display in front of the faithful as wellas the more than 740 athletes that made their way to 55th Street.
In an impressive day for the program, the Aztecs recorded 14 top-3finishes including three first-place results. The quality of SDSU’swins ranged from the predictable to the utterly surprising.
Freshman Alisha Lasswell won her second consecutive high jump inas many weeks, clearing the bar at 5 feet, 7 inches, which alsorepresented her seasonal best.
Thesecond of the victories came in the guise of moonlighting volleyballplayer Megan Schauermann’s 19 feet, 4.25 inch leap in the long jump.
The 4×400 relay team closed out the day for the Aztecs with acommanding win, clocking in at 3 minutes, 47.31 seconds, with TonetteDyer running the anchor leg.
The Aztec Classic featured athletes from neighboring schools UCSDand Mesa College, as well as far-flung colleges such as Middleburyfrom Vermont and the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Also, someOlympic hopefuls made their way to San Diego, as junior Leslie Millerfound out.
She ran against Melinda Sallins and Tanisha Mills — both arebeing groomed by USA Track for the Olympics in the 400-meter hurdles.Miller came in third, but it was nevertheless good experience forher.
“I was excited to run against them because I know my time would befaster,” Miller said.
She also nailed down a personal record in the 100-meter hurdles,coming in sixth, but at a time of 14.57.
Miller took second in the long jump, with a distance of 19.02.
Melinda Smedley continued her consistent season in the sprints.She took second in the 100-meter dash, punching out at 11.89. Sheadded another second in the 200-meters, finishing at 24.24.
Smedley claims she was inspired by the level of competition.
“I felt strong because I was running with big-time, world-classathletes,” she said.
TonnetteDyer dropped a second in her time in the 400, coming in second at54.42.
Jini Hogg made good on her goal to get her time in the 400-metersdown to the 54-second range. She came in at 54.85, good enough forthird place.
Jennifer Stakiw finished third in the 800-meters at a time of2:13.30, and in her first outing this season Hillery Gemmill notcheda third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
SDSU’s pole vaulters continued their successful season with ShaylaBalentine, Jesika Englegretson and Tricia Gutierrez taking the two,three and four slots.
Balentine was locked in a heated battle with Connie Jerz of LongBeach State. In the end, Jerz took first, yet Balentine recorded aheight of 13’00.25″, as the runner-up.
Englegretson launched herself 12’06.25, a personal record, takingthird in the event.
Gutierrez matched her teammate’s height, but had more misses andwas awarded fourth.
SDSU pole vault coach Richard Fox was pleased at the progressionthat the trio have made.
“We’re looking at peaking for the conference championships andhaving them all jump over 13 feet,” he said.
Candace Hill also had a good day at the shot put, taking third- her throw thudding into the earth at 43’06”.
Head coach Rahn Sheffield noted that he “was pleased with the teamat a meet of this magnitude.”
