Fresno State Athletics
Mattson claims MW pentathlon crown
2/23/2017 7:50:00 PM | Track & Field
Sophomore Jestena Mattson set four personal records en route to winning the program’s first Mountain West championship in the pentathlon.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Entering the 2017 Mountain West Indoor Track and Field Championships, Fresno State's Jestena Mattson had the seventh-highest score in the pentathlon this year, but on Thursday the sophomore pieced together a career day to become the first Bulldog to win a MW championship in the event. On her way to a school record 3,828 points, Mattson set a new personal record in four of the five events at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
Not only did Mattson become the first Fresno State athlete to win the event, she became the first to even score in it.
"Jestena had a great day today. All day long she was relaxed, composed and confident," Fresno State head coach Scott Winsor said. "She opened up with a PR in the hurdles and took second, and then went on to the high jump where she finished tied for first. The shot put is one of her weaker events but she got through that without doing too much damage which is exactly what you want to do in a multi-event. In the long jump she went out and set another PR. Then in the 800 she went out very aggressive and took the lead after the first 200 and ended up finishing second.
"She had a fantastic day and I couldn't be more proud of her. Coach P (Palavicini) has done a great job with Jestena this year. He has her using her physical ability and not thinking so much about each event. That is exactly what you want to do when you compete."
The sophomore opened the day by clocking a time of 8.99 in the 60-meter hurdles, 0.14 seconds below her previous personal best. The time was good enough for second and she was one of only two competitors to finish under nine seconds.
Mattson took that momentum in the high jump where she tied for first by clearing 1.64m (5'-4.5"). Despite the first-place finish, it was the only event on the day in which she did not set a new career-best mark.
Heading into the third event of the day, the Bulldog sat in a tie for first overall with 1,695 points, but finishing seventh with a throw of 10.63m (34'-10.5") in the shot put, Mattson slipped back to fourth. With her best event coming up though, she was still within striking distance.
On her first attempt in the long jump, Mattson went out and stomped a mark that no other athlete in the field would pass. With a new PR of 7.53m (18'-9.75"), the Bulldog pulled to within 31 points of UNLV's Stella Clemens heading into the 800 meters.
With new personal records in three of four events, Mattson capped off her day the only she could have—with another. In the final event, the sophomore finished the 800 meters with a time of 2:22.16 to finish second. Although she finished second for the second time on the day, Mattson grabbed the ultimate prize, the pentathlon title, by surpassing Clemens with a 76-point swing to win the event by 45 points.
With Mattson's 10 points, Fresno State sits in a tie for second place with Utah State, four points behind host New Mexico. Day two for the Bulldogs will begin at 11:30 a.m. PT on Friday with the weight throw.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
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Not only did Mattson become the first Fresno State athlete to win the event, she became the first to even score in it.
"Jestena had a great day today. All day long she was relaxed, composed and confident," Fresno State head coach Scott Winsor said. "She opened up with a PR in the hurdles and took second, and then went on to the high jump where she finished tied for first. The shot put is one of her weaker events but she got through that without doing too much damage which is exactly what you want to do in a multi-event. In the long jump she went out and set another PR. Then in the 800 she went out very aggressive and took the lead after the first 200 and ended up finishing second.
"She had a fantastic day and I couldn't be more proud of her. Coach P (Palavicini) has done a great job with Jestena this year. He has her using her physical ability and not thinking so much about each event. That is exactly what you want to do when you compete."
The sophomore opened the day by clocking a time of 8.99 in the 60-meter hurdles, 0.14 seconds below her previous personal best. The time was good enough for second and she was one of only two competitors to finish under nine seconds.
Mattson took that momentum in the high jump where she tied for first by clearing 1.64m (5'-4.5"). Despite the first-place finish, it was the only event on the day in which she did not set a new career-best mark.
Heading into the third event of the day, the Bulldog sat in a tie for first overall with 1,695 points, but finishing seventh with a throw of 10.63m (34'-10.5") in the shot put, Mattson slipped back to fourth. With her best event coming up though, she was still within striking distance.
On her first attempt in the long jump, Mattson went out and stomped a mark that no other athlete in the field would pass. With a new PR of 7.53m (18'-9.75"), the Bulldog pulled to within 31 points of UNLV's Stella Clemens heading into the 800 meters.
With new personal records in three of four events, Mattson capped off her day the only she could have—with another. In the final event, the sophomore finished the 800 meters with a time of 2:22.16 to finish second. Although she finished second for the second time on the day, Mattson grabbed the ultimate prize, the pentathlon title, by surpassing Clemens with a 76-point swing to win the event by 45 points.
With Mattson's 10 points, Fresno State sits in a tie for second place with Utah State, four points behind host New Mexico. Day two for the Bulldogs will begin at 11:30 a.m. PT on Friday with the weight throw.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FS_TracknField
Instagram: fresnostate_tracknfield
Facebook: FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat: FSAthletics
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