SDSU TRACK & FIELD: BONNIE DRAXLER WINS MW POLE VAULT CHAMPIONSHIP

Draxler becomes the first athlete to win four MW pole vault titles

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

February 22, 2019 (Albuquerque) - The San Diego State track and field team sits in second place entering the final day of the Mountain West Indoor Championships. Bonnie Draxler highlighted the day by capturing the championship in the pole vault. She cleared 4.33 meters to set a meet record and capture her fourth indoor championship (fifth overall), becoming the first athlete to accomplish that.

“It feels amazing,” Draxler said after the meet. “I’m so happy to be able to represent San Diego State at such a competitive level and look forward to seeing our program continue to grow. I am so honored to be part of our legacy and I can’t wait for nationals in two weeks!”

Draxler was one of four Aztec vaulters to score. Freshman Alysia Allen and Kaitlin Heri both set new personal bests by clearing 13’ 75” (3.98m), good for No. 10 in program history. Marissa Berry, the 2017 MW champ, vaulted 12’ 8.75”, good for eighth place. The Aztecs have now won 25 of the 39 pole vault championships including both indoor and outdoor.

The Aztecs also received points from Asia Smith in the long jump. She cleared 18’ 10.5”, good for sixth place. Smith finished second in the pentathlon the previous night.

In the track events, the Aztecs had eight runners advance from the prelims to Saturday’s finals. Bonnie Draxler ran the best 60 meter dash of her life before competing in the pole vault, finishing in 7.41 seconds, the seventh best time in school history. Callista Fletcher earned a sixth place finish, clocking in 7.43 seconds.

In the 200 meter dash, sophomores Jalyn Harris and Callista Fletcher advanced. Harris set a new PR with a time of 23.93, good for the eighth best mark in program history and a third place finish. Fletcher finished in 24.12, 0.03 seconds off her personal best.

Harris also qualified for the final in the 400 meter dash, finishing with the second best time (54.97). Sakura Roberson tied for third, finishing in 55.10, despite not running the event all season. Freshman Kasey Ebb won her heat, but just missed the cut with a ninth place finish (56.02).

Freshmen Nyjari McNeil and Danae Dyer also advanced to Saturday’s finals by each finishing fifth in their respective competitions. McNeil finished in 2:13.91 in the 800 meter run and Danae Dyer clocked in at 8.60 in the 60 meter hurdles.

THE NOTE

The Aztecs have now won 25 MW titles in the pole vault out of a possible 39 tries (indoor and outdoor).

QUOTE OF THE MEET

“They worked as a team. It is really hard to score 20 points in an event. It took all four vaulters to score. They work hard as a team and every day it is infection to be better than yesterday.” --Pole Vault Coach Rich Fox on SDSU getting points from four Aztec vaulters

UP NEXT

SDSU will wrap up the Mountain West Championships Saturday beginning at 10:00 a.m. MT/9:00 a.m. PT.

Mountain West Indoor Championships – Day Two

Albuquerque Convention Center

Team Scores

1. Colorado State – 45

2. San Diego State – 33

3. Utah State – 25

4. Fresno State – 22

5. UNLV – 18

6. New Mexico – 17

7. Boise State – 15

8. Wyoming – 14

8. Air Force – 14

10. Nevada – 12

11. San Jose State - 2

Top Finished & SDSU Results

60m Dash Prelims

1. Destiny Smith-Barnett (UNLV) – 7.15 – Meet Record

4. Bonnie Draxler (SDSU) – 7.41q – No. 7 in SDSU history, PR

6. Callista Fletcher (SDSU) – 7.43q

11. Tai McDonald (SDSU) – 7.69 – PR

200m Dash Prelims

1. MaryBeth Sant (Colorado St.) – 23.47

3. Jalyn Harris (SDSU) – 23.93q – No. 8 in school history, PR

8. Callista Fletcher (SDSU) – 24.12q

10. Lisa-Anne Barrow (SDSU) – 24.34

14. Danae Dyer (SDSU) – 24.82

15. Tai McDonald (SDSU) – 24.87 – PR

400m Dash Prelims

1. Lauren Gale (Colorado St.) – 54.59

2. Jalyn Harris (SDSU) – 54.97q

T-3. Sakura Roberson (SDSU) 55.10q - PR

9. Kasey Ebb (SDSU) – 56.02

11. Lisa-Anne Barrow (SDSU) – 56.33

14. Maya Brosch (SDSU) – 56.43 - PR

800m Run

1. Avi’ Tal Wilson-Perteete (UNLV) – 2:11.00

5. Nyjari McNeil (SDSU) – 2:13.81q

22. Angela Wilson (SDSU) – 2:25.26

23. Danielle Scott (SDSU) – 2:25.90

60m Hurdles Prelims

1. Destinee Rocker (Colorado St.) – 8.22

5. Danae Dyer (SDSU) – 8.60

Pole Vault

1. Bonnie Draxler (SDSU) – 14-2.50 (4.33m) – MW Championship Record

4. Alysia Allen (SDSU) – 13-00.75 (3.98m) – T-No. 10 in SDSU history, PR

5. Kaitlin Heri (SDSU) – 13-00.75 (3.98m) - T-No. 10 in SDSU history, PR

8. Marissa Berry (SDSU) – 12-8.75 (3.88m)

19. Taylor Alexander (SDSU) – 11-5.00 (3.48m)

Long Jump Finals

1. Ja’la Henderson (Wyoming) – 6.08m

6. Asia Smith (SDSU) – 18-10.50 (5.75m) - PR

9. Lisa-Anne Barrow (SDSU) – 18-6.00 (5.64m)

16. Sara Absten (SDSU) – 17-7.00 (5.36m)

19. Vanessa Spizewski (SDSU) – 17-2.75 (5.25m)