EUGENE, Ore. - The Portland State track and field team closed its season on day three of the NCAA West Regional at Historic Hayward Field, with the women's 4x100 relay team finishing 20th overall in the field of 24. The season's end marks the first time since 2008 the Vikings have failed to advance an individual to the NCAA Championships.

In the second heat, facing some of the nation's stiffest competition, the Vikings finished seventh with a time of 46.13 seconds. Amongst PSU's competition was Texas A&M, the nation's fastest-team with a time of 42.87.

Sophomore Geronne Black started the race for the Vikings and hung in with the main pack to keep the Viks in the top-four from lane four. She passed the stick to junior Joenisha Vinson, who kept stride with the other teams and made up some ground on Wichita State's Audacia Moore, but Texas A&M's Jeneba Tarmoh bolted past PSU and WSU's relay teams.

When Vinson passed to junior Anaiah Rhodes, Oklahoma's Sherine Wells made up quite a bit of ground to improve the Sooners standing, propelling the team to a third-place finish in the heat. Rhodes passed the baton off to senior Karene King on  "Bowermans Turn" (turn four), who closed it out for PSU, along with her outdoor career on the Park Blocks.

TCU was the 12th and final team to advance the national championship with a time of 45.16. The relay team obliterated the Portland State record April 9 at the Mondo Invitational with a time of 45.24 seconds, a time that also set a new meet record.

With the relay team not finishing within the top-12, the Vikings ensure the end of their 2011 season, marking the first time since 2008 an individual from Portland State has not advanced to the NCAA Championship. PSU finished the season with five conference champions, set 13 new school-records, two conference records and six Big Sky Athlete of the Week honors.

On Thursday afternoon, before the Vikings began the regional championship, Rhodes, a transfer from Mt. Hood CC, reflected on her season thus far and said "When I first got to Portland State there were a lot of good people running here and most of the best people have gone to run later this season. I'm just very happy to be one of those runners on the relay team."

Of Portland State's six regional qualifiers, five will return for the indoor and outdoor season. King is the lone Viking who will not return for outdoors, as she has exhausted her eligibility.

NCAA WEST REGIONAL
May 26-28
Eugene, Ore. (Hayward Field)

Final Portland State Results
Thursday, May 26
100-meters first round: Geronne Black, 11.70 (20th); Karene King, 11.97 (34th)
Javelin 1st round: Sean Mackelvie, 192-5 (34th)
800-meters first round: Tony Crisofulli, 1:53.90 (41st)

Friday, May 27
100-meters quarterfinals: Geronne Black, 11.92
100-meter hurdles first round: Joenisha Vinson, 14.17 (39th)
200-meters first round: Karene King, 24.57 (30th)

Saturday, May 28
4x100 relay quarterfinal: Black, Vinson, Rhodes, King, 46.13 (20th)