SPOKANE, Wash. – In the Fresno State track and field team's indoor opener, taking center stage for the Bulldogs was their youth at the Cougar Classic on Saturday at The Podium. Led by wins from second-year athletes Cierra Jackson and Ceonna Pipion, Bulldog underclassmen captured six top-three finishes, along with the team's 4x400 relay comprised of underclassmen which also placed third.
Jackson had two of the team's top finishes, winning her first collegiate event, throwing a career-best 18.47m/60-7.25 in the weight throw. The Chandler, Ariz. native also earned the Bulldogs' top result in the shot put, placing third with a toss of 14.71m/48-3.25.
In the weight throw, Jackson led the 'Dogs to a 1-2-3-4 finish. Behind her was Amelia DiPaola at 17.15m/ 56-3.25, Tahj’nee Thurston at 17.08m/56-0.50 and Trinity Williams at 16.45m/53-11.75. DiPaola also finished just back of Jackson in the shot put, placing fourth with a mark of 13.91m/45-7.75.
On the track, Pipion grabbed the win in the 400 meters with a time of 56.76 ahead of teammate Nakyia Buckner who finished in 58.28. Along with freshmen Miana Giovannini and Madison Hutton, the group took third in the 4x400 relay, the event's top Mountain West team, with a time of 3:55.01.
Hutton also qualified for the finals in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.01. She went on to finish seventh in the final at 9.18.
In the triple jump, Fresno State finished 2-4 behind sophomore Haley Abirached’s 11.99m/39-4 jump and freshman Rachela Pace at 11.81m/38-9.
Up Next
Fresno State will take two weeks off before traveling to Seattle for the UW Invitational (Jan. 28-29).