ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The first day of the Western Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships proved to be a fruitful one for the Texas State team. Thanks to the performances of Tina Valenzuela and Pilar Hastings-Smith as well as a heroic effort from Danessa Lyssy, the Bobcats claimed an early lead in the women's standings. En route to that lead, Valenzuela also set a school record in the pentathlon.
 
“It was a great job across the board for the multis, but Tina had a phenomenal day” said Head Coach Dana Boone.
 
Valenzuela went on to set a personal record in all but two events of the pentathlon, which led to a 3,726-point finish, a new Texas State record. She started her day with a fast run of 8.88 seconds in the 60 meter hurdles. She immediately set the bar high for the team and the rest followed through as the Bobcats took three of the top four finishes in the hurdles to start the pentathlon.
 
Lyssy finished second with an 8.94 while Hastings-Smith finished fourth with a 9.06. Lyssy, barely able to work out the past few weeks due to injury, leapfrogged over Valenzuela with a second place finish in the shot put at 12.51 meters.
 
The senior would keep the momentum as she continued to lead the group after the high jump then went on to set a personal record in the long jump at 5.49 meters. Meanwhile, Valenzuela set a personal indoor record with a 5.57 meter jump.
 
From there, it came down to the 800 meters. Valenzuela set another personal record of 2:23.75 while Hastings-Smith finished just ahead at 2:23.37 for her fourth personal record of the day.
 
“Pilar stepped up big. Danessa has been struggling with injuries so it was great to see her step in and finish fifth,” said Boone.
 
Valenzuela finished third in the pentathlon while Lyssy finished fifth and Hastings-Smith, 6^th. The group's finish puts the Texas State women currently in grasp of the top team award of the weekend with an early one-point lead over New Mexico State, 13-12.
 
Carter Nell also competed in the men's heptathlon and currently sits 10^th.
 
Friday, Texas State will participate in a number of events, aiming for the WAC Championship.