Track & Field Qualifies One Individual, One Relay For The Finals At The NCAA Championships

Tonette Dyer qualifies for the 400-meter semifinals.

Senior Tonette Dyer advanced to the semifinals of the 400 meters for the second straight season.
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June 12, 2003

SACRAMENTO - San Diego State track and field's record-breaking season continued Friday as the Aztecs advanced one individual and one relay to the finals at the 2003 NCAA championships in Sacramento, Calif. The team's 4x400 relay placed second in its preliminary heat, while junior Nicole Ireland (Las Vegas, Nev.) ran the fifth-fastest semifinal time of 56.89 in the 400 hurdles at Cal State Sacramento's Hornet Stadium.

Ireland, who finished third in her semifinal heat, will make her first career appearance in the finals of the 400 hurdles, set for Friday evening at 7:25 p.m. (PDT). The junior will be in search of her third straight All-America distinction in the event after placing 10th in 2002 and 11th her freshman campaign both while enrolled at the University of Alabama. The top eight Americans earn All-America honors in each event by the United States Track Coaches Association.

Joining Ireland in the finals will be the team's 4x400-meter relay of junior Tonette Dyer (Shreveport, La.), Ireland, senior Jini Hogg (San Francisco, Calif.) and freshman Bianca McNair (Portland, Ore.). The foursome rounded out the day by placing second in their heat with a time of 3:35.19, eighth overall in the 20-school field.

Also competing individually Thursday was Dyer in the 200 and 400 meters. The junior failed to advance to the semifinals of the 200 meters, running a preliminary time of 24.45. Later in the day, however, the All-American logged the seventh-fastest qualifying time of 52.36, a career best, in the 400 meters to advance to Friday's semifinals at 8:25 p.m. Dyer placed ninth in the 400-meter race at the 2002 NCAA championships.

All four of the Aztec individual qualifiers will be in action Friday with exception of senior Melinda Smedley (Stockton, Calif.), who was forced to withdraw from the meet Wednesday due to injury. Senior Leslie Miller (Humble, Texas) and freshman Shanon Meyer (Hesperia, Calif.) begin day one action of the heptathlon, while Ireland will compete in the 400-hurdles finals and Dyer will race in the 400 meters semifinals.

San Diego State's NCAA Track & Field Championships Schedule/Results

Wed., June 11
Time	Student-Athlete	Event		Result
7:55 p.m.	Nicole Ireland	Prelims - 400 hurdles		57.37 (Qualified For Semis)

Thurs., June 12
Time	Student-Athlete	Event		Result
10:15 a.m.	Tonette Dyer	Prelims - 200 meters		24.45 (25th of 29)
12:55 p.m.	Tonette Dyer	Prelims - 400 meters		52.36 (Qualified For Semis)
6:00 p.m.	Nicole Ireland	Semis - 400 hurdles		56.89 (Qualified For Finals)
8:15 p.m.	4x400 Relay	Prelims - 4x400 relay		3:35.19 (Qualified For Finals)

Fri., June 13
Time	Student-Athlete	Event		Result
10 a.m.-3 p.m.	Leslie Miller	Heptathlon - Day One
10 a.m.-3 p.m.	Shanon Meyer	Heptathlon - Day One
7:25 p.m.	Nicole Ireland	Finals - 400 hurdles
8:25 p.m.	Tonette Dyer	Semis - 400 meters

Sat., June 14
Time	Student-Athlete	Event		Result
10 a.m.-2:40 p.m.	Leslie Miller	Heptathlon - Day Two
10 a.m.-2:40 p.m.	Shanon Meyer	Heptathlon - Day Two
7:20 p.m.		Tonette Dyer	Finals - 400 meters
9:20 p.m.		4x400	Finals - 4x400 relay