July 1, 2008

SAN DIEGO - Sherraine Pencil, who just completed her senior season at San Diego State, will travel to University of Windsor Stadium in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, for the 2008 Canadian Olympic Track and Field Trials, July 3-6. The former Aztec team captain is slated to compete in the 200 and 400 meters and will look to secure a spot on the Canadian national team that will participate in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Pencil, who hails from Toronto, returns home after completing a successful 2008 outdoor season in which she advanced to the NCAA Championships in the 200 and 400 for the second consecutive year.

The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) all-West Region selection enters the meet with season-best times of 23.53 seconds in the 200 and 53.11 in the 400. Her 200 time is the fifth-fastest in program history, while her 400 effort ranks seventh.

Regardless of the outcome in each of the two races at the Canadian Trials, Pencil will also have a shot at being selected to the 4x400-meter relay team. The Canadian Olympic Association will make that decision following the Trials.

Pencil will look to be the first Canadian Aztec to make it to the Olympics since Lynn Kanuka in 1988 and the fourth overall, joining Sue Kameli and Sharon Lane. Kanuka participated in the 1988 and 1984 Games, while Kameli was a three-time national team member (1984, 1980, 1976) and Lane was a 1980 Olympian.