Complete Cherry and Silver Invitational Results (PDF)
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- Against some of the best competition in the nation, the Titans showed they were up for the task.
The Cal State Fullerton women's indoor track and field team registered a strong team performance at the Cherry and Silver Invitational Friday and Saturday at the Albuquerque Convention Center, recording a number of personal bests versus a top-notch field, led by senior Katie Wilson and freshman Destinee Brown.
The field included four top-25 women's squads and schools such as Arizona, Arkansas, Cal, Clemson, Houston, Florida State, South Carolina, Stanford, Texas, and USC.
"We had a great day today and the ladies really showed up. Katie Wilson and Destinee Brown led the team. I'm very impressed how the lady Titans stepped up to the competition this week," said associate head coach Brandit Copper.
Brown had another strong performance on Saturday as the Los Angeles, Calif., native finished qualified for the 60-meter finals after posting a preliminary time of 7.49 before the finals where she also posted a time of 7.49 to finish sixth. In the preliminary races, Ashley Sims finished 17th with a time of 7.71 in the 60-meter dash. The Titans also got top-30 finishes in the 60-meter dash from Alexandria Stewart (7.81, 26th) and Alexis Stewart (7.83, 29th).
Senior Katie Wilson set a new personal best in the 400-meter dash as the Ontario, Calif., native finished in ninth with a time of 54.84. Wilson previously had a personal best of 55.61, which she set last season.
Junior Deena Pierce competed in the 60-meter hurdles on Saturday and finished in 22nd place with a time of 8.85, while Nicolette Garcia finished in 34th with a mark of 9.32.
Off the track, Ifunanya Gwacham led the Titans in the triple jump with a best jump of 11.21 meters to finish in 28th. Freshman Ty'Jaylah Robertson and Jasmyne Davis finished back-to-back as Robertson jumped 11.0 meters and Davis 10.98 meters to finish 30th and 31st, respectively. In the shot put, Amanda Mercado recorded a toss of 10.88 meters to finish in 26th.
Friday's Action
On the track, Brown had another impressive performance as she finished seventh in the 200-meter dash with a personal best time of 24.13, while Sims also had a personal best time of 24.78 in the 200-meter to finish 21st.
Nealy was the only Titan to compete in the 400-meter dash Friday and the freshman sprinter finished in 33rd with a time of 59 seconds. Robertson participated in the high jump and finished with a new personal best of 1.63 meters to finish 10th.
Davis led all Fullerton athletes in the long jump with a 5.22-meter jump, while teammates Brionna Thompson, (5.21m) and Hardge (5.19m) finished right behind Davis as the trio placed 25th, 26th, and 28th, respectively. Thompson's jump of 5.21m set a new personal record for the sophomore jumper.
Junior Amanda Mercado led the way in the weight throw as the Murrieta Valley, Calif., native had a 14.66m toss to finish 15th, while redshirt-sophomore Alexandria Kemp had a best toss of 14.33m to finish 19th.
Fullerton returns to action next week at the University of Washington Invitational, a two-day event (Jan. 31-Feb 1) on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle, Wash.