'Dogs head into final meet weekend before conference

Friday, February 9

Seattle, WA

Fresno State

Husky Classic

'Dogs head into final meet weekend before conference

2/8/2024 2:48:00 PM | Track & Field

By: Josh Mitchell / Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

Fresno State Indoor Track & Field - Event Week #5
Event: Husky Classic / Don Kirby Invitational
Date: Feb. 9-10
Location: Seattle, Wash. / Albuquerque, N.M.

Husky Classic: Live Results | Schedule
Don Kirby Invitational: Watch (FloTack) | Live Results | Schedule

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State track and field teams will split up for its final tune-up weekend before the Mountain West Championships. A small contingent will head north to Seattle, Wash., for the Husky Classic while the majority of the team will head to the Don Kirby Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M.

COMPETING THIS WEEKEND
In Albuquerque - Jocelynn Budwig, Amelia DiPaola, Miana Giovannini, Matilde Guarino, Emma Harper, Janae Heffernan, Madison Hutton, Cierra Jackson, Morgan Johnson, Maria Lawson, Rachela Pace, Ceonna Pipion, Iyanna Ross, Chloe Sharp, Ella Spaulding, Antoinette Stubbfield, Liz Tarczy; Men - Bronson Ortlieb

In Seattle - Women - Gianna Chiaramonte, Corie Smith; Men - Mohamed Saleh, Garrett Ostrinski

IN THE RANKINGS
Fresno State ranks No. 3 in the USTFCCCA Women's Mountain West rankings and No. 7 in the West Region.

The Bulldogs are the highest ranked MW program in the West.

BROKEN RECORD
On Jan. 12 at the Spokane Sports Showcase, after already recording a season best in the long jump, Rachela Pace broke Fresno State's record in the triple jump with a mark of 13.29m/43-7.25. During the event, the junior recorded three jumps of at least 12.99 meters in her series.

She is just one of three Fresno State triple jumpers to ever record a mark over 13 meters.
Pace's previous best jump indoors was 12.11m/ 39-8.75 with an outdoor best of 12.62m/ 41-5.

OF THE WEEK(s)
Following each of their three meet weeks, the Bulldogs have earned an Athlete of the Week honor from the Mountain West. Last month, Ceonna Pipion earned the Mountain West's first Women's Track Athlete of the Week award this season. During the second week of awards, Rachela Pace was selected Women's Field Athlete of the Week. The first for both during their careers. Pace doubled her total two weeks later.

The senior placed second in the 400 meters at the Spokane Invitational and anchored the Bulldogs' 4x400 relay team to a win with a time of 3:47.1. Pipion finished the 400 meters in a time of 55.12, the third-fastest time recorded in the NCAA this season.
Pace broke Fresno State's triple jump record at the Spokane Sports Showcase with a mark of 13.29m/43-7.25 en route to winning the event.

A BIG DEBUT
At the Spokane Invitational, the high jump saw a new Bulldog move to No. 4 on the program's all-time list. In her first appearance, freshman Liz Tarczy cleared a height of 1.71m/5-7.25 to finish second in the event.

Tarczy followed up the second-place finish with a win at the Spokane Sports Showcase clearing the same height.
Tarczy ranks second in the Mountain West this season.

RETURNING SCORERS IN 2024
Fresno didn't lose much in the offseason. In fact, from its 2023 Mountain West Indoor Championships' team that finished sixth, just one scorer is gone.

In total, Fresno State returned 45.5 of its 49.5 points.
Cierra Jackson scored a team-high 13 points for the second straight indoor championship meet.

SITTING IN THE TOP 10
Heading into the season, seven different Bulldogs owned spots on the program's all-time list. Madison Hutton has a team-high three while Cierra Jackson has two.

Hutton is second in the pentathlon, second in the high jump and fourth in the long jump.
Joining Hutton in the pentathlon is Kaja Bins who ranks third.
Jackson owns the program record in the shot put and ranks third in the weight throw.
Joining Jackson in the shot put are Jordyn Bryant (4th), Amelia DiPaola (7th) and Jocelynn Budwig (8th).
Ceonna Pipion is third in the 200 meters.

"Fresno State Athletics - Elevate: Imagine the Possibilities" - The Elevate Campaign provides a visionary roadmap to enhance and construct a series of athletic facilities to help further position Fresno State Athletics for sustained competitive success nationally, while also further serving as a source of pride and economic growth throughout California's Central Valley. For more information, visit GoBulldogs.com/elevate.