CHARLOTTE, N.C. – San Francisco State's Luisa Musika (Milpitas, Calif., Milpitas HS) wrapped up another stellar campaign on Saturday after posting a runner-up finish in the discus throw during the final day of competition at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Irwin Belk Complex on the campus of Johnson C. Smith University. With her performance, the Gator sophomore captured All-America honors for the second year in a row after placing sixth in the same event as a freshman in 2009.
On her second attempt of the final round and fifth overall, Musika recorded a distance of 159 feet, 11 inches, improving upon her upon her school record and personal-best mark of 149-10 set earlier this season at UCLA's Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational on April 9.
In addition, Musika becomes SF State's first track and field student-athlete to earn All-America recognition in consecutive years since Lache Bailey and Cinnamon Rackley accomplished the feat in 2000 and 2001.
“I'm just so happy right now,” said Musika. “I thought that once I made the finals I could crank out another good throw, but I didn't it expect to be as far as it actually was.
“I feel so blessed with all the support that my coaches, teammates and family have given me. This is very special.”
Musika's effort also gave the Gators eight points in the team standings, where SF State finished in a five-way tie with Missouri S&T, Bemidji State, Minnesota Duluth and Clarion for 30th place.
“I just can't say enough about Luisa,” said Gator head coach Terry Burke. “Today was just another huge example of how she thrives against big-time competition; nothing is going to faze her. We're all very proud to have someone with her talent and capabilities competing at San Francisco State.”
The Gators' other national qualifier, senior Tyler Dalbey (Petaluma, Calif., Santa Rosa JC) placed 14th in the finals of the 400-meter hurdles on Thursday.
NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships
Charlotte, N.C.
Day Three Results
Discus Throw Finals
1. Paige Newby (Abilene Christian), 162-00
2. Luisa Musika (SF State), 159-11 (School record)
3. Larissa Richards (Pittsburg State), 157-06
4. Shanai Guider (Winona State), 155-06
5. Rebecca Stier (Winona State), 154-00
6. Tara Cooper (Ashland), 152-00
7. Sam Lockhart (Grand Valley State), 148-06
8. Mary Theisen (Winona State), 147-00
For complete results, please click here.
