SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Bonnie Draxler qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships after finishing eighth in the pole vault Friday evening at the NCAA West Prelims in Sacramento, Calif.
Draxler cleared 14-02.00, which tied for the best height. This will be her fourth career appearance at the NCAA Championships (2nd outdoor). She was the national runner-up three months ago at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Sophomore Callista Fletcher competed in two events Friday evening. She ran the 200-meter dash in 23.43, the third best time in the heat to advance to Saturday's quarterfinals. She also competed in the 100-meter dash quarterfinals, where she finished in 19th place with a time of 11.54, failing to move to the NCAA Championships.
Outside of Draxler, three Aztec pole vaulters competed, marking the fourth time SDSU had four pole vaulters competing in the NCAA West Prelims. Kaitlin Heri cleared 13-08.25 and finished in 19th place. Marissa Berry and Alysia Allen each vaulted 13-04.25, which was a new PR for the freshman Allen.
Freshman Erica Grotegeer missed the cut in the discus but had the second-best throw of her collegiate career. Her throw of 172-3 put her in fourth place after her flight, but she ended up finishing in 18th place after the top-seeded third flight wrapped up.
UP NEXT
On Saturday, in the final race of the meet, the Aztecs will run in the 4x400m relay at 9:25 p.m. The SDSU relay team just won the gold medal at the MW Championships. Freshman Nyjari McNeil, sophomores Jalyn Harris and Sakura Roberson and senior Lisa-Anne Barrow ran the sixth fastest time in school history (3:35.02). Last year, Harris and Barrow helped the Aztecs' 4x400m relay team finish ninth at the prelims to advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the first time since 2006.
THE NOTE
With Bonnie Draxler moving on to Nationals, SDSU has now had a representative at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 22 of the past 23 years.
NCAA West Prelims
Sacramento, Calif. | Hornet Stadium
Top Finisher & SDSU Results
100m Dash Quarterfinals - 12 advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships - Top three from each heat and the next three fastest times
1. Teahna Daniels (Texas) – 10.99 (+1.4)
19. Callista Fletcher (SDSU) – 11.54 (+1.4)
200m Dash First Round - 24 advance to Friday's Regional Finals - Top three from each heat and the next six fastest times
1. Anglerne Annelus (USC) – 22.72 (-0.1)
20. Callista Fletcher (SDSU) – 23.43 (+2.0) – No. 3 in her heat
Pole Vault – Top 12 advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships
1.Victoria Hoggard (Arkansas) – 14-02.00 (4.32m)
T-8. Bonnie Draxler (SDSU) - 14-02.00 (4.32m)
19. Kaitlin Heri (SDSU) – 13-08.25 (4.17m)
T-27. Marissa Berry (SDSU) – 13-04.25 (4.07m)
T-29. Alysia Allen (SDSU) – 13-04.25 (4.07m)
Discus Throw - Top 12 advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships
1. Laulauga Tausaga (Iowa) - 205-8 62.69m
18. Erica Grotegeer (SDSU) – 172-3 (52.50m)
Draxler Qualifies for NCAA Championships
