Henderson rolls to program record

NCAA outdoor runner-up off to impressive start with victory over USC’s Hill in 100-meter race that produces top two times in the world

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Overshadowed last year by the spectacular sprint double from Oregon’s Ariana Washington at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships, San Diego State junior Ashley Henderson grabbed the spotlight for herself Saturday at the 39th annual Aztec Invitational.

Henderson ran a world-leading 11.10 seconds in the 100-meter dash in her outdoor opener to hold off USC junior Deanna Hill, who ran a personal-best 11.18 to place second.  RACE VIDEO

Henderson, who eclipsed the 2004 program record of 11.20 set by Tonette Dyer, had two wind-aided performances that were faster last year, including her 10.96 to finish second behind Washington’s 10.95 in the NCAA final.

She entered the outdoor season with a wind-legal personal-best 11.21 after placing fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championships in both the 60-meter dash (7.22) and the 200 (22.83).

Henderson, who competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 200, became one of 30 female sprinters in Division 1 history to run a wind-legal 11.10 in the 100 during their collegiate careers.

Five female athletes at San Diego State have won NCAA outdoor crowns in their careers, including back-to-back triple jump championships from Shanieka Thomas in 2013-14. But the only women’s individual track title for the Aztecs came in 1985 when Latanya Sheffield won the 400 hurdles.

San Diego State is scheduled to compete Saturday at UC San Diego’s California Collegiate Invitational in La Jolla.