ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Fresno State closed out the 2023 Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Championships with a sixth-place finish, scoring 49.5 points, the most for the Bulldogs since 2018. Thirteen of those points came from the shot put on Saturday. In total, 40 of those points came in three events—weight throw, shot put and pentathlon.
In the shot put competition that turned topsy-turvy in the finals, Fresno State had four 'Dogs score when the dust settled, the most by a women's program at the conference's indoor championship meet since 2002. Leading heading into finals with a mark of 16.52m/54-2.5, the second-longest toss in program history behind her record-breaking mark on Feb. 4, Cierra Jackson was bypassed twice in the fifth round. And unfortunately, again in the final round as she finished fourth for the second consecutive year.
Jordyn Bryant landed a personal best of 15.52m/50-11 on her final attempt, increasing her best mark of the day three times.
After a first-round toss of 14.00m/45-10.25, that put Jocelynn Budwig into the finals, the junior was passed three times between the third and fifth rounds. One of the Bulldogs' most recent additions, Budwig jumped from ninth to sixth with a season-best mark of 14.63m/48-0. Also jumping into scoring position in the finals with a season best of 14.22m/46-8 was Amelia DiPaola. The senior's best toss came in the fourth round.
While the shot put was going on, Rachela Pace came through the first flight of the triple jump to earn a spot in the finals with a mark of 12.02m/39-5.25 on her second attempt. The junior was unable to increase the mark but finished eighth to score for the first time in an indoor championship.
Over on the track, Ceonna Pipion moved up two spots from the prelims to pick up sixth in the 400 meters. The junior clocked a time of 55.16. She returned in the 4x400 relay, joining Chloe Sharp, Iyanna Ross and Brianna Sproles to register a season-low 3:46.57.
Notes
Fresno State became the third program in Mountain West history to have four athletes score in the shot put at an indoor championship. The Bulldogs are the first since Colorado State in 2002.
Cierra Jackson owns the Top 2 indoor shot put throws in program history.
Jackson registered a team-high 13 points for the second-straight season.
Newcomer Jordyn Bryant totaled the second-most points on the team with nine.
Jocelynn Budwig moved on to the program's all-time list in the shot put, checking in at No. 7.
Ceonna Pipion earned her highest individual finish at a MW championship meet (sixth).
Rachela Pace scored for the first time at a MW indoor championship meet (eighth).
Fresno State's 49.5 points is its fourth-most in a MW indoor championship. The sixth-place finish is tied for its best.
Quotes
Jason Drake, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country
"Overall it was a solid day for our team. We always set out to outperform the form chart, and we did that this weekend."
"We had a handful of just misses on making finals that would have made it a perfect day. We were really close to fourth place and we add some more events that we do extremely well in outdoors so this is a great springboard into our outdoor season."