California State University Northridge Athletics
California State University at Northridge
Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays
Lofton, Gonder Finish Sixth and Seventh in the Heptathlon at Texas Relays
4/9/2011 12:15:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
Lofton finished the meet in sixth-place with 5,366 points, her second best heptathlon score ever while Gonder finished seventh in the 25-athlete field with 5,294 points which is just 44 points off her season best.
"I'm really pleased with where we are at this time of the year," said associate head coach Avery Anderson. "The totals Sherrina and Desirae put up are really good scores especially at this meet which is probably the second-biggest national meet, outside of nationals, for multi-events."
Both Lofton and Gonder opened the competition strong as Lofton ran a lifetime-best 14.18 to finish sixth in the 100 meter hurdles. Gonder also ran well finishing 10th in a season-best of 14.43. Lofton earned 953 points while Gonder opened with 918.
The second event, the high jump, is one of Gonder specialties and the senior did not disappoint as she finished first with a height of 5-9.25 (1.76) which was just off her season-best of 5-9.75. Lofton was 10th with a top clearance of 5-5.75 (1.67) to earn 818 points. Gonder's first place finish was good for 928 points.
The shot put was next and Lofton finished 12th at 36-9 (11.20) to earn 608 points while Gonder took 21st at 30-9.75 (9.39) to pick up an additional 490 points. The opening day of competition finished with the 200 meters and both athletes ran well as Lofton finished third in 24.20 and Gonder was fifth in 24.69. Lofton's time was her best wind legal time of the season and was good for 962 points while Gonder's time was a season-best and earned her 915 points.
Lofton was fifth after four events with 3,341 points while Gonder stood seventh with 3,251 points.
Thursday's competition opened with the long jump and Gonder had the better mark of the two Matadors as she finished sixth at 18-9.25 (5.72) which earned her 765 points. Lofton, one of CSUN's top long jumpers, was a disappointing 14th with a best of 17-2.25 (5.24) which gave her 626 points.
In the javelin, Lofton took eighth with a best throw of 114-8 (34.96) while Gonder finished 18th with a best of 93-11 (28.64). Lofton earned 571 points to take a total of 4,538 into the final event. Gonder had a total of 4,467 heading into the 800 meters.
The two were then separated by six-tenths of second in the final event of the competition, the 800 meters. Lofton clocked a time of 2:19.69 to finish fifth followed by Gonder in sixth in a season-best 2:19.75.
Following the solid performances of Sherrina Lofton and Desirae Gonder in the heptathlon at the Clyde Littlefield/Texas Relays in Austin, Texas, Thomas Johnson matched his career-high of 6-10.75 (2.10) in high jump to finish third. Johnson cleared his lifetime-best on his second attempt before missing all three attempts at 7-0.50.
The women's 4x400 team of Shane Mullany-Banks, Precious Watkins, Ashley Frazier and Jackie Harrison finished 13th in 3:42.32 which was just off their season-best of 3:42.16. The 4x100 relay team of Watkins, Lofton, Frazier and Gonder finished 25th in a time of 47.11.
Also competing in Texas for the Matador men, Carl Horsley finished 25th in the 100 meters setting a season-best with a time of 10.57 which matches his wind-aided time at the Cal-Nevada Championships. David Reid equaled his lifetime-best by running 10.58 which left him 27th. Michel Woodham finished 21st in the 110 meter hurdles in a season-best 14.47 which is just .07 off his lifetime-best.
Frazier also competed in the 400 hurdles and finished 21st in a time of 1:02.01.
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Players Mentioned
