The Highlanders competed across two different meets this weekend at the Azusa Pacific Bryan Clay Invitational and the Mt. Sac Relays.
Head Coach Nathan Browne summed up the weekends' performances, saying "This weekend our groups were spread across 3 days at both APU Bryan Clay and the Mt. Sac relays. We had a number of breakthrough performances, highlighted by Linda and Collette in the 10k. They continue to elevate the standard with Coach Newsom and for the Big West."
He continued, "We also had a plethora of lifetime bests in the 5k, the 1500m and the triple jump. Our coaches are bringing their groups around with season bests as we march toward the last regular season meets and the Big West. It was a fun weekend to be a Highlander!"
The Mt Sac Relays
WALNUT, Calif. - Linda Perez and Collette Lowengrub continue to shine, smashing records in the Women's 10k, finishing second and fourth overall. Linda Perez broke her previous school record by 45 seconds, and ran the fastest 10k the Big West Conference has seen in the last 10 years. Colette Lowengrub ran the second fastest 10k the conference has seen in the past decade. Perez's time of 33:50.14 and Lowengrub's 34:03.95 puts the pair at 1st and 2nd place overall in the Big West, and are NCAA first round qualifying times.
On his young team's record-breaking performance, Coach Zach Newsom said, "The highlight of the weekend's performance on the distance side was another record-breaking effort by Linda and Collette as they lowered their own #1 and #2 UCR All-Time 10k marks by over 40 seconds each and likely qualified for the NCAA regional meet. We look forward to competing on our home track next week!"
RESULTS HERE
Bryan Clay Invitational
AZUSA, Calif. - Sean Caster opened the day with a lifetime best of 14:38.69 in the men's open 5k, for a 14th place finish overall. After running the 5k on day one, Caster doubled back to the 1500m to run a new lifetime best of 3:52.66.
Norma Alvarez ran a smart and competitive race in just her second 3k steeplechase. Alvarez lowered her lifetime best in the process to 11:04.01 and moved from #9 to #8 on the UCR All-Time list as she slides past Tanya Valenzuela's 11:04.85.
Noah Murasmith also ran the second steeplechase of his young career, showing growth in every performance. His mark of 9:37.22 was just a couple of seconds off his lifetime best.
Monea Jennings finished 13th overall in her second Heptathlon ever. In the first event, the 100m hurdles, she ran her first full hurdle race of the season in 15.20, good for 815 points. On day one, after three events,Jennings had 1798 points, 795 points more than she had after three events at the UCR Spring Multis a month ago. She set a new lifetime best in the long jump on the first event of day two. The jump was 5.21m, good for 617 points. Going into the final event - the 800m, Monea remained on personal record pace. She finished with a lifetime best 4064 points.
In the Men's 800m, both Mateo Joseph, 1:50:50, and Andrew Jackson, 1:50.60, drop lifetime bests and debut on the UCR all-time list at #4 and #5 respectively. Mateo's time also qualifies him for the USATF U20 Championships.
Joshua Mendoza lowered his 5k lifetime best to 14:28.36 in a hard fought race.
Aiden Davis dropped his lifetime best in the 5k by 11 seconds to 14:14.30, good for third place overall.
Liam Carr lowered his 400m dash lifetime best to 48.08 and moved from #10 to #7 on the UCR All-Time list.
In the Women's 100m dash, there was a collegiate best performance from Chudney McGehee, 12.19 Delaney Harris ran a season best 12.28. Harris also won her 200m heat and set a new lifetime best in the process with a time of 25.00.
Kenady Jackson had an impressive 200m dash as she crossed the tape with a mark of 24.77. That is a season best and Big West Qualifying.
Sierra Sutton jumped on the Personal Record train in the 200m dash as well with a 25.86.
John Ober III threw a 59.78m, advancing his season best.
Jessica Onwu, 11.29, and Michelle Algiers, 11.21, advanced their lifetime bests in the Women's Triple Jump and inched closer to the Big West Qualifying mark of 11.35m.
Men's Triple Jump didn't disappoint, with lifetime bests for Anthony Reyes, 14.97m, Cameron Lewis, 14.54m, and Titan Ruotolo, 14.41m. Calvin Black, 14.24m, earned a collegiate and season best. Reyes jumped up to #6 on UCR All-Time list while Lewis hops on at #10.
New 1500m lifetime bests for Dariana Miramontes and Samantha Velazquez with times of 4:36.70 and 4:44.48. Miramontes dropped her lifetime best by nearly 9 seconds.
RESULTS HERE
