CLOVIS, Calif. – An unpredicted, dominant showing in the women's hammer by Fresno State opened the 2024 Mountain West Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Thursday at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Bulldogs took 21 points in the hammer to kick start a 35-point day. Fresno State leads the women's standings by nine over Colorado State. Nevada is third with 20 points.
Fresno State grabbed three medals in the throws. Cierra Jackson and Amelia DiPaola went 2-3 for the 'Dogs in the hammer in the afternoon. Harriette Mortlock placed second in the javelin during the evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED
With the Bulldog women having two opportunities to score on the opening day, they took full advantage in the first one. With three 'Dogs narrowly in scoring position entering the meet, Fresno State ended the day with four placing in the Top 6.
Throwing the hammer only a handful of times in her career, Jackson posted a four-plus meter personal best. The junior continued to better herself in the competition, finishing in second with an almost effortless two-turn toss that landed 61.41m/201-5. After a foul on her opening attempt, DiPaola quickly regrouped to place third for the second time in three years. The senior was also above 61 meters at 61.12m/200-6.
Like Jackson, Emma Harper also dropped a PB. The junior finished fifth at 58.17m/190-10. Last year's champion, Jocelynn Budwig finished sixth at 57.30m/188-0.
Through the morning and into the afternoon, Fresno State's heptathletes were putting together a big first day. Led by Madison Hutton's 3,185 points, all five Bulldogs in the field are in the Top 9 through four events.
The junior won the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.06. She slipped back to second after the high jump where she remained through the final two events of the day. Placing fourth in the high jump (1.63m/5-4.25) and third in the shot put (12.59m/41-3.75), Kaja Bins moved up to third with 3,111 points.
A 1.69m/5-6.5 in the high jump found Kaitlynn Perez in the thick of the podium race. The senior has 3,051 points, 60 points behind Bins and just 10 behind Colorado State's Terez Babicka for fourth. Freshmen Ella Spaulding (2,994) and Peyton Bitter (2,852) are in eighth and ninth. Nevada's Valeria Paez-Rueda (3,008) and Johanna Haas (3,003) are just ahead of the two Bulldogs in sixth and seventh.
In the women's javelin, Mortlock held the lead for five rounds following a first attempt PR of 50.06m/164-3. The sophomore was passed in the final round, moving her to second.
Out of the final heading into her third throw, Rhiannon Genilla jumped to fifth with a toss 46.67m/153-1. The senior would finish there after the final three attempts in the finals. Chloe Wood placed seventh at 44.80m/146-11.
MOVING ON
Four Bulldogs advanced to Saturday's finals on the track. Mohamed Saleh was the first in the men's 800 meters. The senior advanced on time, finishing seventh overall at 1:51.64.
Ceonna Pipion cruised to the top spot in her heat in the 200 meters. The senior advanced with the fifth-fastest time at 23.53.
The final qualifiers of the day were in the men's 400 hurdles. PBs from Meinkaikay Kaye (53.52) and Dan Koesterer (53.54) earned the Bulldog duo the final two qualifying spots.
NOTES
Fresno State scored 21 points in the women's hammer. It was the second-most points for the program in the event behind the 25 the team scored in 2022.
Senior Amelia DiPaola earned her second bronze medal in the hammer (2022, 2024).
Senior Cierra Jackson medaled at the championships in her third different event (2024 - hammer, 2023 - discus, 2022 - shot put).
Jackson jumped to No. 7 on Fresno State's all-time list in the hammer (61.41m/201-5).
Thursday's women's hammer competition was the first time Fresno State did not have an individual win the event since 2019.
Fresno State has scored double-digit points in the women's javelin at each of the last four MW championships.
Sophomore Harriette Mortlock moved to No. 9 on the program's all-time list in the javelin
UP NEXT
Day 2 of the Mountain West Outdoor Championships will begin for the 'Dogs tomorrow at 10:20 a.m. PT with the continuation of the heptathlon.