ByStephen ChupaskaStaff Writer
The San Diego State women’s track team once again proved to beroad warriors.
The Aztecs, making their second trip to Los Angeles this season,turned in an impressive performance at last Saturday’s Trojan Classicheld at Loker Stadium on campus at USC.
Freshman high jumper Alisha Lasswell led the way by taking firstplace in the high jump, clearing the bar at a season-best 5 feet1/20.
Lasswell’s accomplishment proved to be a theme for the Aztecs asthree other athletes and the 4×100 meters relay quartet registeredseason-bests.
Junior runner Jini Hogg placed second in the 400-meters, stoppingthe clock at a career-best 55.05 seconds. While she was pleased withher outing, she is not going to rest on her laurels.
“I feel like I’m getting back to where I should’ve been a longtime ago,” Hogg said. “I’m satisfied, but I’m going to try and moveon to bigger and better things. I’m comfortable getting to 55(seconds); now I’m ready to move on and hit 54.”
Tonette Dyer finished sixth in the 100-meter dash, but she broughther time down to a season-best 11.97. Head coach Rahn Sheffield wasparticularly impressed with her run.
“She slipped out of her block at the start and still ran aseason-best, breaking 12 seconds,” Sheffield said.
The Aztecs 4×100 meters team crossed the finish line at 45.52.
Rounding out the day for SDSU was Candace Hill’s third-placeeffort in the discus, reaching a distance of 45.46 meters.
All in all, everything seemed to go according plan for the Aztecs,who were competing against USC, a school featuring several of thenation’s best athletes.
“If you want respect, you have to go out there and get it, andthat’s what they did (last weekend),” Sheffield said. “It’srefreshing to see the athletes go out and compete at that level andknow that they belong there.”
Bragging rights
In the last few weeks, Sheffield has made clear how he feels aboutcompeting at home: “It’s about bragging rights only.”
After spending two months traversing the western part of thecountry, this weekend the Aztecs will have to go no further than 55thStreet and Montezuma.
This Saturday, SDSU will host the Aztec Classic at the SportsDeck. Sheffield, for one, is eager to show the home fans what theteam can do.
“We very seldom have home meets,” Sheffield said. “You read aboutus, but you don’t see us. Now you get to see us.”
While the team is pleased to be staying home, the Aztecs are notchanging anything in terms of their preparation.
“We’re going to stay the course,” Sheffield said.
Track notes
This weekend SDSU will welcome back into the fold senior HilleryGemmill, who has been injured, but will compete in the steeplechase.
The Aztec Classic will be a sort of homecoming for former SDSUrunners Miesha McKelvy and Felicia Stone who will both compete in the100-meter hurdles.
McKevly is a 1998 Goodwill Games bronze medalist and placed secondat the 2002 USA Indoor Championships.
Said Sheffield: “McKelvy is on pace to set the American recordthis weekend and she could very well run a world-record time.”
Stone holds third place in the SDSU record books in the event.
