Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Washington Last Chance Qualifier
It is Not Over
3/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
March 7, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - Sharon Ayala isn't ready to end her indoor season. She proved it Saturday.
Ayala knew going into the UW Last Chance Meet, she needed to improve her mark in the 20-pound weight throw to move up in the rankings and qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships. And she did it.
Ayala threw the 20-pound weight 65-feet, 6.75 inches (19.98 meters), at Saturday's meet in Seattle, setting a new personal best and making a dramatic leap in the rankings. Based on last week's rankings, the mark, a nearly one and a half foot improvement on her season-best set three weeks ago, takes Ayala from No. 18 to the 10th spot.
"This was a good day for me," said Ayala. "I came in with my mind set on getting it done. I've been throwing right around this mark in practice, so I knew it was there. I just needed one more chance to get in there and do it."
Unfortunately, the two-time Western Athletic Conference weight throw champion still isn't guaranteed a bid to the national championships. To qualify, an athlete must either attain an "automatic" qualification mark or be among the approximately 16-best provisional marks on the descending order list. The mark should put Ayala easily within that top group, but with other athletes competing at last chance meets, her position isn't guaranteed.
For now, it's a waiting game. On Monday, the NCAA will release the list of qualifying athletes to compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships to begin Friday, March 13, in College Station, Texas.
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