By Jonathan Cañas (@jonathancanas_) – Spear Reporter
Aliyah Williams(middle) in the midst of running the 600-neter run that would ultimately the break the SJSU record for the event. l Photo via SJSU Athletics
The SJSU track and field team traveled to Albuquerque, N.M. for the UNM Indoor Open in which both men and women set multiple personal records, combining for 17 PR’s on the day.
Day One:
Sophomore sprinter Aliyah Williams set a San Jose State indoor record in the 600-meter run, finishing in 1:33.25, good enough for second place in the event. Fellow freshman sprinter Savana Dutton wasn’t too far behind, placing fifth in the 600-meter run.
Junior jumper Emilia Sjostrand continued the Spartan momentum by finishing in third-place in the long jump with a 6.13-meter jump. Sjostrand one-upped herself after placing fourth in the same long jump last year.
On the men’s side of things, sophomore jumper Cameron Tarver took third place in the 200-meter dash posting a time of 20.68 seconds.
Senior Pablo Villasenor joined in on the Spartan action by throwing a personal best 17.41-meters in the weight throw for the ninth-place finish.
“The highlight of the day so far was Aliyah Williams setting a new school record in the 600-meters,” said SJSU track and field head coach Charles Ryan.
Day Two:
The women stole the show yet again when the 4×400 relay team of Williams, Dutton, Alyssa Bean, and Sarah Mosteller, broke the SJSU record set last season with a time of 3:43.24. The Spartans finished fourth overall.
In the unseeded women’s 60-meter dash, freshman Morgan Little took the top spot with a personal best 7.54 seconds.
Sjostrand reigned supreme yet again, finishing in first place in the triple jump for the second year in a row, with a 13.31-meter jump.
Malachi Snow stole the show on the mens side, finishing third in the 60-meter hurdles, just missing his personal best with a 7.84.
Sophomore Spartan Demaris Waters finished fourth behind Snow with a 7.98.
“Sjostrand opened up her season with a huge triple jump mark which is going to get her NCAA championships indoors,” said Ryan. “The women capped off the day with a new school record in the 4×4 relay.”
The UNM Open was a positive sign of things to come for an up-and-coming team early in the year, with the women leading the way.
The Spartans will continue their tour of Albuquerque with the Don Kirby Invitational on Feb. 9.