Jackrabbits topping the leaderboard

JALEN WILSON Sports Reporter

Black, Reichow post nationally ranked marks

It was an exceptional week for the Jacks track and field team as Joel Reichow of the men’s team and Jazzelena Black of the women’s team were both named Summit League Track and Field Athlete of the Week.

For Black, a senior from Oxnard, California, holds the school record for triple jump with a jump of 41 feet, 9.25 inches, which happened in the Summit League Championships last season. After this past week, she recorded her second Athlete of the Week honors for her performance in the Texas State Bobcat invitational.

Black competed in the triple jump, where she finished first with a jump of 43 feet, 9.75 inches, topping her school record. She also competed in the long jump, as she finished second with a distance of 18 feet, 11.75 inches.

She currently ranks first in both the triple jump and the long jump in the Summit League and first in the nation in the triple jump. 

“It’s exciting for her and it shows how good she really is,”  said Rod DeHaven, SDSU head coach.

DeHaven attested her training this past offseason to her success in the indoor season which has carried over nicely to the outdoor season. 

“She got much stronger since last year, she learned how to handle the leg speed she has,” DeHaven said.

According to DeHaven, Black currently ranks No. 20 in the world and is looking to compete in the Olympic trials. 

“It’s something we talked about at the beginning of the year. For her to get there, would be a phenomenal feat,” DeHaven said.

For Reichow, this was his first ever Outdoor Athlete of the Week nomination. Reichow finished second in his heat at the Stanford Invitational this past weekend in the 10,000 meter run with a time of 28:55.84. Reichow broke a 32-year-old school record for the time he ran in Palo Alto.

“It was good, he ran a really smart race,” DeHaven said regarding Reichow race this past weekend. “He really established himself as a guy who can make a national meet.”

The White Bear Lake, Minnesota native currently ranks first in the Summit League conference and second on the NCAA’s list.

As some athletes could get caught up in rankings and personal goals accomplished throughout the season, DeHaven said that his athletes aren’t worried about things like this at this time in the season, but, does believe that this should help them in future meets. 

“Joel should have a huge advantage mentally, just by the way he ran that race,” DeHaven said.

The men’s and women’s teams will have their next competition April 14 through 16 at the Jim Duncan Invitational in Des Moines, Iowa, as well as the Bryan Clay Invite, the Mt. Sac Relays and the Long Beach State Invitational, all of which are in California.