SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The CSUSB Coyotes competed at San Diego State University's Aztec Invitational and Point Loma Nazarene University Invitational meet this last weekend. Kaleigh Giannone competed in her first heptathlon as a Coyote and achieved a 7^th place finish in a field that featured several Division I programs. Giannone earned 6 heptathlon PR's over the 7 events including her highest point event in the 800-meters earning 675 points in a time of 2:31.46.

"My first heptathlon in two years went exceptionally well, I set a personal record in my hept score and I thoroughly surprised myself" – Kaleigh Giannone

Also competing at the Aztec Invitational was Tayler Salley, she competed in the hammer on Friday where she achieved a mark of 51.11m, earning her a 4^th place finish and the highest finish among D-II schools in the event. Salley would double up her hammer efforts at PLNU taking the victory with a throw of 50.42m, winning the event by over 35 feet.
Sariyah Copeland continued the winning ways of the Yotes at the meet being a part of 3 event wins on the day. Her individual efforts in the 100m (12.15) and 200m (24.72) and along with her teammates Journie Alexander, Maame Banahene, and Maya Price, in the 4x100m (48.31) all achieved winning times in their respective events. Her time in the 200m also achieved her the school record in the event and was one of three yotes (Ladaijah Wright - 26.14, and Alexandria Owens – 26.35) who achieved CSUSB top 10 marks in the event.

"I already knew going into the meet that I had the fastest times, so I knew that I had a target on my back so I had to make sure that I ran my best and did what I could to run fast." – Sariyah Copeland

Abby Venglass was another event winner for the Yotes in the women's shot put. She threw 11.98m in the event resetting her own school record and improving her CCAA ranking from 10^th to 7^th. She also achieved a season's best in the discus as well with a throw of 37.26m, this improves her CSUSB top 10 mark and moves her up to 3^rd all time behind her teammates Tayler Salley, who got fourth at the meet with 37.25m, and school record holder Victoria Soto, who finished second at 38.44m.

"I thought the meet went well, I was able to implement a new game plan that we had been working on during the week and it finally started clicking with me." – Abby Venglass

The Distance crew had a slew of season's bests in their respective events. Joanna Lopez was one of 3 coyotes who earned season's bests in the 1500m with a time of 5:06.07 improving her time on the year by nearly 2 seconds. Caty Gaynor (5:27.49) and Lindsay Calderon (5:40.30) rounded out the competitors for the Yotes in the 1500m. The 800m group featured 6 season's best for the Yotes lead by Tayonna Hargrove in a time of 2:30.82. Nicole Renteria finished 3^rd in the 5000m run crossing the line in a time of 19:19.76.

Maya Price competed in three events on the day achieving season's bests in both. Price jumped a height of 1.50m in the high jump tying her season's best as well as running a time of 12.57. She was one of three Yotes who finished in the top 8 in the women's 100m sprint. She also anchored the winning 4x100m relay team.

The Yotes finished out the day with an impressive run in the 4x400m relay. The team of Ladaijah Wright, Sariyah Copeland, Maame Banahene, and Alexandria Owens crossed the line in a time of 3:59.96 improving their season's best time and moving up to #3 all time at CSUSB. This solidifies their ranking in the CCAA at #4.

"I thought we did well this weekend overall. Had some unexpected personal records but that just shows that we're primed and ready to go going in to the thick of our season before the conference meet." – Coach McDonald

The CSUSB Coyotes compete at CSUN Invitational April 1^st and 2^nd in Northridge.

CCAA Qualifiers:
Sariyah Copeland – 100m, 200m
Journie Alexander – 100m, Long Jump
Maya Price – 100m, 200m, High Jump
Kaleigh Giannone – 400m Hurdles
Tayler Salley – Hammer, Discus, Shot put
Abby Venglass – Shot put, Hammer, Discus
Victoria Soto – Discus, Hammer
The CSUSB Coyotes compete next at Cal State Northridge.

Come out and support your Yotes!