Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Mountain West Championships
`Dogs poised for final day push at MWC
2/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
By: Matt Burkholder
mburkholder@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - On Friday, the second day of the Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships, seven individuals for Fresno State qualified in their respective preliminary events for Saturday's finals while 10 individuals set new personal records.
"The ladies did a fantastic job today," said head coach Scott Winsor. "We've had two really good days. Obviously with our DMR last night, setting a school record with that run, and today we got a very solid number through today's prelims and into tomorrow's final day."
Overall, the Bulldogs competed in seven events on Friday, six of which were qualifying rounds -- 60m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1-mile and 60m hurdles. The only finals event where the 'Dogs had the opportunity to score points was in the weight throw.
The standout event of the day was the 400m dash. With the field of 21 entries seeking the eight open spots for Saturday's final, four of the five Bulldogs competing in the 400 qualified and simultaneously set new personal records. Those four were Kyra Johnson (54.51), Dezirae Johnson (54.64), Maja Pogorevc (55.39) and Nailah Harris-Murillo (55.66). Kimberley Efonye fell outside the top eight, clocking a 56.79-second time.
"Kyra is looking to go out and take this thing," Winsor noted of his top finisher in the 400. "She is confident, but Dezirae, Maja and Nailah are all running so strong. I'm excited for tomorrow's race."
Another big event for the Bulldogs was the 200m dash. Both Njeri Omawahleh and Shakira Lewis qualified for the 200m final on Saturday while also setting personal records. Omawahleh continues to best her 200 time each time she runs, in the MW prelims it was a 24.13 after setting a mark of 24.24 last time she ran on Feb. 12 at the Samford Invitational. Lewis sprinted to a 24.55-second time, breaking a mark she had held since 2014.
"Shakira ran a heck of a race in the same heat as Njeri," Winsor said. "They both got through to tomorrow's final, and to have two get through in the 200 for us is big."
Annemarie Schwanz ran her way to the 1-mile final on Saturday behind a time of 4:57.66. She currently holds the school record in the 1-mile, a time of 4:47.13 that she recorded at the Samford Invitational. Her time was good for second place on Friday.
"Annemarie is doing so well right now," Winsor said. "She's running with great confidence and she could do some major damage in the women's mile final tomorrow. We are really looking forward to that."
Two others that set personal records in track events, but fell short of advancing to a final was Kyndol Craver (60mH) and Meagan Paracholski (800m). Craver sprinted a 9.17-second time in the 60mH and Paracholski busted a record she set as a freshman in 2012 by clocking a 2:11.90 on Friday.
Of the five in the weight throw, Manpreet Grewal (15.60m) and Kylie Coleman (15.59m) set personal records, although they were both bested by Kayla Hopkins who recorded a mark of 16.18m (53'-1.00"). Hopkins finished with the 13th-longest throw in the field, but it resulted in no points for Fresno State in the weight throw as the top eight scored.
The MW Indoor Track and Field Championships conclude on Saturday. It will be a huge day for the Bulldogs as they have seven event finals with scoring potential. The day starts at 9 a.m. PT with the shot put while track events begin at 11:10 a.m. PT with Schwanz in the 1-mile run.
All Results:
Thursday
Distance Medley Relay: 11:28.45#
Pentathlon (J. Mattson): 60m, 9.49; high jump, 1.65m, shot put, 9.57m; 800m, 2:26.69
Friday
60m: Shakira Lewis, 7.59
200m: Njeri Omawahleh, 24.13*; Shakira Lewis, 24.55*
400m: Kyra Johnson, 54.51*; Dezirae Johnson, 54.64*; Maja Pogorevc, 55.39*; Nailah Harris-Murillo, 55.66*; Kimberley Efonye, 56.79
800m: Meagan Paracholski, 2:11.90*
1-mile: Annemarie Schwanz: 4:57.66
60mH: Kyndol Craver, 9.17*
Weight Throw: Kayla Hopkins, 16.18m; Manpreet Grewal, 15.60m*; Kylie Coleman, 15.59m*; Katianna Parisis, 14.56m; Yazmin Torres, 14.26m
# - indicates school record | * - indicates personal record
Team Rankings (6 events scored):
1. Colorado State: 46
2. Boise State: 41.50
T3. San Diego State: 32
T3. Wyoming: 32
5. Nevada: 21
6. Air Force: 14.50
7. San Jose State: 14
T8. New Mexico: 10
T8. Utah State: 10
10. Fresno State: 8
11. UNLV: 5
How to Follow:
Live Results: http://www.liverunningresults.com/public_html/events/mwcindoor2016
Mountain West Network: http://www.themw.com/page/watch-live
Fresno State Track & Field Twitter: @FS_TracknField
Mountain West Championship Central: http://www.themw.com/page/championship_c-itrack
"Be Bold!" - The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio.
