AUSTIN, Texas – High jumper
Sashane Hanson capped a remarkable sophomore season for the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi track & field program on Friday afternoon at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship West Prelims.
Hanson bowed out of her first trip to the postseason in 37th, but not before becoming the first Islander to sweep the women's high jump at the Southland Conference Championships in a single season.
"Sashane had an amazing year," Director of Track & Field and Cross Country
Shawn Flanagan said. "She won indoor and outdoor at the conference meets. She got a taste of what the NCAA Prelims are like, and it will be a great motivation for her in the future."
Hanson was in the second pit, jumping in the third position. The Jamaican international opened the day with a flawless effort at the starting height of 1.64 meters (5' 4.5").
As the bar moved up to 1.69 meters (5' 6.5"), Hanson suffered a slight bump missing on the first attempt. Following a quick chat with assistant coach
Cody Knight, the sophomore made the needed corrections with a perfect effort and moved to the third bar.
The 1.74-meter bar (5' 8.5") proved difficult for the field, as only 11 competitors made it out of the round unscathed. Hanson was one of 10 athletes who had their day ended at that height, though her three attempts nearly eclipsed the bar.
After winning the Southland Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship last season, Hanson made it three in a row with a sweep of the league titles in 2017.
The sophomore set the outdoor school record at 1.78-meters (5' 10") at the Texas Invitational in April, which qualified her for the first postseason meet of her career. On top of seven event wins, Hanson cleared 1.75 meters (5' 8.75") on five occasions, a height that no other Islander has ever topped.
Perhaps her biggest contribution to the 2017 campaign has been serving as a mentor to freshman
Zhafear Ray, who joined Hanson with a gold medal in the men's high jump at the conference championship. They became the first high jumping duo in Islanders history to qualify for the NCAA Prelims.
Ray will get his first taste of the postseason tomorrow night at 6 p.m. in the men's high jump.
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