The Short Story: After a thrilling two-day season opener at the Reno Sparks Convention Center for the Silver State Invite, the Aggies succeed across the board – with old talent returning and new talent proving and impressing.
"It was great seeing our students back in uniform after cross country season and off-season training," praises head coach Ngoni Makusha. "It's still early in the season, but we have seen some personal best times and marks across all event groups."
HOW IT HAPPENED (FRIDAY): Out of 11 events that rolled through the Sparks Center, the Ags took top ten seats in eight of them across multiple disciplines. Returning talent
Ashpreet Kler headlined the weight throws for the team, launching herself into third place.
Multiple freshmen Aggies saw collegiate competition for the first time on December 6th, such as the 800 meter freshman squad made up of Kiah Aitken, Kayla Towne, and Grace Dunham – earning 6th, 8th, and 10th respectively.
Junior
Maya Shinnick notched an indoor personal record in the 400 meter dash, looping the course in 56.80 seconds. Sophomore
Cierra Kinsey wasn't far behind, seated 6th with a 57.24 on the race.
Junior transfer Kadidja Sangare made debut leaps and bounds with an Aggie jersey, placing fourth in the long jump with a stellar 5.88 meter flight.
As the first day of the Silver State invite weaned, the Aggies responded with their best showings of the meet. Sophomore
Stormy Wallace earns the crown in the 5000-meter run, the longest event of the day. She crossed the finish line first, breaking 18 minutes with a 17:59.43.
To wrap up the day, the pole-vaulting squad flung themselves to victory, taking the top two spots in the competition. Ater a nail-biting jump-off,
Sydney McCann placed first in the event and
Sarah Graessley followed behind to tie for second place in the event.
HOW IT HAPPENED (SATURDAY): The Ags had a shorter list of events to kick off the Saturday portion of the meet, with only six competitions ahead of them.
The sophomore originally hailing from Italy
Chiara Fantin placed ninth in the triple jump, crossing 11.38 meters of space.
The junior transfer Kadidja Sangare continued to impress, collecting a second fourth place title in the weekend after her showing in the 60 hurdles.
Sophomore
Dominika Janik had a stellar performance in the 600 meter dash, earning herself second overall. Aitken and Towne also came in with the top ten, placing eighth and ninth respectively.
A true freshman squad made up of Kiah Aitken, Grace Dunham, Kayla Towne, and Angeline Valladares crossed fifth of seventh in the 4,000 meter distance medley relay.
To finish off a strong and successful Aggie showing in the season debut,
Maya Shinnick,
Cierra Kinsey, Ashleigh Christy, and
Dominika Janik came in second place for the 4x400 relay, the baton passers coming in hot with a 3:50.35 final time.
UP NEXT: This concludes the Aggies' 2024 portion of the indoor season. "We will slow things down with the students focusing on their final exam and reconvening in January as we return to Reno for the Nevada Invitational and Multis on January 23-25" says Makusha. The team will see the Reno Sparks Convention Center one more time as they break the competitive seal on January 24-25th for the Nevada Invite. "We have a good group, and I am excited to see what the season will bring to us."
RESULTS (FRIDAY)
Weight Throws: 1. Jayla Hooper, Oregon State (19.19, 62' 11.5");
Ashpreet Kler (3rd Place 17.84m, 58' 6.5")
Mile Run:1. Janiah Brown, Boise State (5:03.04);
Jocelyn Pacheco (debut 5:30.54); Angelina Valladeres (FR debut 5:28.61)
400m Run:1. Alyssa Heinlein, Fullerton (55.38);
Maya Shinnick (5th place and indoor PR 56.80);
Cierra Kinsey (6th place 57.24)
800m Run:1. Olivia Alexandre, Azusa Pacific (2:07.82); Kiah Aitken (6th place - FR debut 2:20.24); Kayla Towne (8th place - FR debut 2:21.99); Grace Dunham (10th place - FR debut 2:25.21)
3000m Run: 1. Grace Southern, Academy of Art (10:12.90);
Kayla Rutz (4th place - 10:34.45)
; Emily Allison (7th place - FR debut 11:00.20)
; Cassidy Kajita (9th place - FR debut 11:08.87)
5000m Run: Stormy Wallace (1st place 17:59.43)
High Jump:1. Dede Norman, Oregon State (1.78m, 5'10");
Elizabeth Churchill (8th place 1.65m, 5'5")
Long Jump:1. Emilia Sjostrand, San Jose State (6.47m, 21' 2.75"); Kadidja Sangare (4th place 5.88m)
Pole Vault: Sydney McCann (1st place 3.75m - won jump off 3.85)
Sarah Graessley (tied for 2nd 3.75m)
RESULTS (SATURDAY)
Shot Put:1. Cierra Jackson, Unattached (17.02m, 55' 10.25"); Brianna Nunn (12th- 12.61m, 41' 4.5")
; Chinyere Egbuziem (15th - PR 11.72m, 38' 5.5")
Triple Jump: 1. Simone Johnson, San Jose State (13.32m, 43' 8.5");
Chiara Fantin (9th place -11.38m, 37' 4")
60m Hurdles: 1. Jahzara Davis, Fullerton (8.18); Kadidja Sangare (4th place - 8.72);
Trisha Sharma (20th- PR 9.33);
Hannah Crone (22nd- PR 9.34)
60m Dash: 1. Magdalene George, Nevada (7.32);
Lily Holman (debut 7.81);
Riley Lankford (PR 7.93)
600m Run:1. Jaden DeSouza, St. Mary's (1:30.53);
Dominika Janik (debut 2nd place 1:34.14); Kiah Aitken (8th place - FR debut 1:40.22); Kayla Towne (9th place - FR debut 1:40.79)
Distance Medley Relay:1. Boise State, (12:06.86); 5th place 12:37.14 (Dunham, Aitken, Towne, Valladares)
4x400m Relay: 1. Fresno State, (3:43.05); 2nd place 3:50.35 (Shinnick, Kinsey, Christy, Janik)
