Days advance to NCAAs in high jump event

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Sharon Day, a former Costa Mesa High standout, won the high jump title at the NCAA West Regional at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. on May 25.

It was Day’s second NCAA West Regional title. Two years ago she set the record at 6 feet, 1/2 -inch, which was enough for her to win the title again this year.

Cal Poly teammate Inka McPherson also cleared 6-0 1/2 , but had one more miss than Day, which secured the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Champion another West Regional title.

Day’s sister, Jasmin, a freshman at Arizona and also a Costa Mesa High product, competed in the NCAA West Regional high jump, placing fourth with a 5-9 clearance.

Sharon Day’s win secured her one of the five spots from the Regional to the NCAA Championships, which start Wednesday in Sacramento.

At the NCAA championships, Sharon and Jasmin Day will face Texas sophomore Destinee Hooker, who won last week’s Midwest Regional with a jump of 6-4. Sharon Day, who was a candidate for Cal Poly’s Athlete of the Year Award, cleared 6-4 two years ago to win the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Championship.

— From staff reports