ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Fresno State closed Day 2 of the Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Championships with its first gold medal of the week coming from Liz Tarczy. It was the sophomore's second straight gold in the high jump after winning the event at outdoors in 2024.
Coming into the championships as one of the favorites in the high jump, Tarczy put together her best meet of the season when it mattered. Clearing her first two heights with ease, the Bulldog saw her only slip up of the event come at 1.74m/5-8.5. Missing on her first two attempts, a clearance on her third got her back on track.
After Tarczy and Colorado State's Tatum Bailey both cleared 1.77m/5-9.75 on their first attempts, the gold medal was decided at 1.80m/5-10.75. Brimming with confidence, Tarczy cleared the bar on her first attempt, putting the pressure on Bailey. The Ram was unable to match. It was the Bulldogs' second straight Mountain West gold in the event and third straight medal since making her collegiate debut at the 2024 indoor championships.
The 1.80m/5-10.75 height matched Tarczy's personal best, and was a new best for the sophomore indoors.
Prior to Tarczy earning her medal, a new Bulldog grabbed Fresno State's first of the day. In the weight throw, it was senior transfer Zoe Yeast picking up bronze for the 'Dogs. Sitting fourth through Round 4, Yeast moved onto the podium with her fifth attempt that measured 19.17m/62-10.75.
Also scoring points in weight were Emma Harper (18.27m/59-11.25) and Tearra Haney (17.65m/57-11) who took sixth and eighth, respectively. It marked the third time in the last four years that Fresno State has had three athletes score in the event.
On the track, Jewel Ash grabbed two spots in tomorrow's finals. The senior's first came in the 60-meter hurdles. After setting a personal best two weeks ago in Albuquerque (8.59), Ash went lower on Friday, clocking a time of 8.40. It was the fastest time in qualifying, and was the third-fastest time in program history.
Ash later hung on to snag the final spot in the 400 meters after posting a new indoor best of 54.46. Ceonna Pipion was the Bulldogs' top finisher in the event. The senior clocked the second-fastest time in qualifying at 53.26.
Through two days of competition, the Bulldogs sit in a tie for fourth with 26 points. Day 3 of the championships will begin with Ash featuring in the finals of the 60-meter hurdles at 10:30 a.m. PT.