TURLOCK, Calif. – San Francisco State's 4x400 relay team of
Carrie Thomas,
Maya Cabiness,
Stefeny Butler and
Alicia Chambers earned All-America honors after posting a fifth-place finish on Saturday at the 2011 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships on the campus of Cal State Stanislaus.
The Gator quartet saved its best for last, logging a time of 3 minutes, 45.81 seconds to establish a new school standard after finishing at 3:46.09 in Friday's preliminary race. Saturday's result also provided the SF State combo its second All-America award of the season after a second-place performance at the indoor national meet in March. Not since thrower Cinnamon Rackley accomplished the feat in 2001 had the Purple and Gold received All-America distinction in both indoor and outdoor competition during the same season.
“This was a great way to end a very productive and historic season,” said Gator head coach Terry Burke. “The team ran as well as they could, and I'm very proud of the way they competed. They have all demonstrated the type of dedication and commitment that is required to be great.”
Fellow California Collegiate Athletic Association member Cal State Dominguez Hills captured the event title with a 3:39.87 clocking, followed by Lincoln University of Missouri (3:42.43), St. Augustine's (3:43.42), Grand Valley State (3:45.29) and SF State (3:45.81), while Findlay (3:45.90), Nova Southeastern (3:47.95) and Albany State (3:51.03) rounded out the race.
The relay finish gave the Gators fourth points as the Purple and Gold ended in a four-way tie for 46th place out of 65 schools, along with Colorado State-Pueblo, Columbus State and Hillsdale. Grand Valley State captured the team championship with 82.50 points, followed by Lincoln (68), Adams State (51), Johnson C. Smith (36) and UC San Diego (35).
Meanwhile,
Luisa Musika came up short in her bid for a third straight All-America award after placing 16
th in the discus throw. Battling cold and rainy conditions, Musika posted a mark of 113 feet, 11 inches in her first of three attempts, but was unable to advance to the championship rounds.
NCAA Division II Championships
At Turlock, Calif.
Day Three
May 28, 2011
4x400 Relay (Finals)
1. Cal State Dominguez Hills, 3:39.87
2. Lincoln (MO), 3:42.43
3. St. Augustine's, 3:43.42
4. Grand Valley State, 3:45.29
5. SF State (Thomas, Cabiness, Butler, Chambers), 3:45.81 (school record)
6. Findlay, 3:45.90
7. Nova Southeastern, 3:47.95
8. Albany State, 3:51.03
Discus Throw (Finals)
1. Mary Thiesen (Winona State), 163-09
2. Larissa Richards (Pittsburg State), 159-10
3. Na'i Leni (Cal State L.A.), 153-02
4. LaShara Jefferson (Texas A&M-Commerce), 149-08
5. Jamie Smith (Grand Valley State), 145-05
6. Christa Bergmann (Fort Hays State), 145-05
7. Shanai Guider (Winona State), 143-03
8. Kayla Muyskens (Central Missouri), 143-01
9. Kelly Ash (Ashland), 142-07
