AZTEC ALUM SHANIEKA THOMAS-RICKETTS QUALIFIES FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

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Thomas-Ricketts and Whitney Ashley will represent SDSU at the IAAF World Championships this August

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

June 25, 2017 (Sacramento) - San Diego State track and field alum Shanieka Thomas-Ricketts became the second Aztec qualify for the IAAF World Championships this August in London, one of three Aztecs to compete at national championships today.

Thomas-Ricketts and Whitney Ashley qualified for the 16th IAAF World Championships, scheduled for August 4-13 in London, with respective second-place finishes at their senior national championships in the triple jump and the discus throw. Both competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Thomas-Ricketts represented Jamaica in the triple jump and Ashley competed for the United States in the discus throw.

 

At the Jamaica Senior National Championships, Shanieka Thomas-Ricketts took home silver in the triple jump with a 47-foot, .5-inch (14.39m) leap. The 2016 Olympian for Jamaica and a three-time NCAA triple jump champion for SDSU (2013-14 outdoor, 2014 indoor) was a seven-time USTFCCCA All-American and a nine-time MW champion for SDSU. Thomas-Ricketts’ second-place finish and qualifying mark (over the 14.10m entry standard) earns her a spot on the Jamaican National Team at the IAAF World Championships.

 

At the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships, Kortney Ross placed fifth in the pole vault. She tied a career mark with her 14-foot, 11-inch (4.55m) vault on her third attempt of the progression. Ross, who was participating in her first U.S. senior outdoor championship meet, has now finished ninth-or-better in all 13 meets in which she has competed since March 2016. The two-year Aztec (2012-14) placed fourth at the USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships earlier this year.

 

In the heptathlon at the U.S. outdoor national meet, Allison Reaser finished sixth with 5,830 points. With 3,477 points and an eighth-place spot coming into the second day of the event, Reaser picked up an additional 2,353 today to move up to sixth place. She leapt 19 feet (5.79m) in the long jump to take 11th and collect 786 points. Reaser then launched the javelin 129-08.25 (39.53m) for eighth and 658 points. She closed out the meet with a 2:13.87, fourth-place outing in the 800 meters, garnering 909 points. Reaser, a 2014 SDSU alum, appeared in her seventh-straight U.S. outdoor championship meet.

 

Next up for SDSU’s alumni is the IAAF World Championships, set for August 4-13 in London. The women’s triple jump quarterfinals are set for Sat., Aug. 5 with the final on tap for Mon., Aug. 7. The women’s discus throw quarterfinals are slated for Fri., Aug. 11 with the finals scheduled on Sun., Aug. 13.

USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships

Hornet Stadium – Sacramento, Calif.

June 22-25

Individual Results (SDSU and winner of each event)

Women’s Pole Vault

1. Sandi Morris (Nike) – 15-9

5. Kortney Ross (unattached) – 14-11

Women’s Heptathlon (after seven events)

1. Kendell Williams (UGA) – 6,564

9. Allison Reaser (Arete Elite TC) – 5,830

Jamaica Senior National Championships

National Stadium – Kingston, Jamaica

June 22-25

Women’s Triple Jump

1. Kimberley Williams (adidas) – 47-11 (5.1m/s)

2. Shanieka Thomas (Pelican TC) – 47-02.75 (2.4 m/s)


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