Fresno State Athletics
Kyra Johnson punches ticket to Eugene
5/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
By: Matt Burkholder
mburkholder@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
Championship Central | Results
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Fresno State senior Kyra Johnson emerged as the sole Bulldog to clinch a spot in the NCAA Championships (June 8-11) on Friday during what has been a turbulent first two days in Lawrence, Kansas, at Rock Chalk Park, due to severe thunderstorms.
After Thursday's competition was shut down due to inclement weather, Friday's women's discus throw competition was cut short while the women's long jump, pole vault and high jump were moved indoors.
Prior to Friday afternoon's storms rolling in, Johnson registered a personal best 57.85-second run in the 400-meter hurdles to advance to the finals in Eugene, Oregon. Johnson was second in her heat, but owned the eighth overall best time.
Johnson's time, for the second-straight race, reset the Fresno State school record in the event. She clocked a 58.03 last time out at the Mountain West Championships, and earlier this season, the Bulldog record holder set the all-time mark for the first time at the Baylor Invitational (April 9) with a 58.04-second time.
Despite the discus throw being the single event not final after Friday, due to the weather, both Bulldog throws by Kayla Hopkins and Yamin Torres sit short of what is the 12th-best throw (49.11m) after three of four flights. Hopkins topped out in the discus with a 49.02m (160-10) throw, while teammate Torres recorded a 46.74m (153-4) mark.
Je'Nia Sears' top long jump on Friday was 5.93m (19-5.50), falling short of qualifying. It came on her third attempt. Sears' first attempt was 5.60m (18-4.50) and second was a foul. She finished 17th of 48.
Sears entered the event as the top seed, after posting the top mark of the west region at 6.63m (21-7.00) during the regular season. The mark was the lowest of her senior season, and junior season during the 2013-14 academic year.
With the javelin being the first event scheduled for Thursday, Vanja Spaic was the sole Bulldog to be able to compete on Thursday before weather suspended the remainder of the day. The freshman registered a personal best 48.40m (158-9) toss on her third and final attempt that placed fifth after the first two flights. When action resumed Friday, competitors from the last flight (third), bumped Spaic out of the top 12, into 15th, falling short of qualifying.
On the men's side, Kamara Biawogi, clocked a 52.83 second time in his first career NCAA appearance. The junior placed 32nd of 48 overall and seventh of eight in the sixth heat.
Also in a first time career appearance, sophomore Shane Atkinson could not clear the initial 4.98m (16-4) height in the pole vault, being eliminated after his allotted three attempts per height.
All running events were ran as a quarterfinal after the first round was eliminated due to inclement weather on Thursday.
Advancement in each event:
• The 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, plus hurdles, the heat winner and the next 6 fastest times advance.
• The 1,500m, the top 2 plus the next four fastest times advance.
Summary: Athletes who rank among the top-48 in their respective event in the west region earn berths into the NCAA West Preliminary Round. The best 24 relay times also advance to NCAA Prelims. Athletes finishing with the top-12 times/marks and the best 12 relay teams qualify for the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, June 8-11.
The same standard is used for the NCAA East Preliminary Round, which is being held in Jacksonville, Florida.
On Saturday, Annemarie Schwanz will run the 1500m (8:30am) and 5000m (11:20am), Keane Bland will be in action in the 100m hurdles (10am) while Njeri Omawahleh will run the 200m (10:30am).
The women's 4x400m relay team will cap the weekend's track events at 12:30 p.m.
All times Pacific.
ALL RESULTS
Men' Team
400mH: Kamara Biawogi, 52.83
Pole Vault: Shane Atkinson, NH
Women's Team
400mH: Kyra Johnson, 57.85**
Long Jump: Je'Nia Sears, 5.93m (19-5.50)
Discus: Kayla Hopkins, 49.02m (160-10); Yazmin Torres, 46.74m (153-4)
Javelin: Vanja Spaic, 48.40m (158-9)*
* - indicates personal record
* - indicates school record
"Be Bold." - The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio.
Players Mentioned
