FULLERTON, Calif. - UC Riverside's enjoyed another breakthrough performance this past weekend, collecting Big West qualifying marks and top-10 finishes at the Ben Brown Invite/AstroAi Distance Carnival at Cal State Fullerton. 

Sean Caster (2nd, 14:26.78), Lance Denhalter (5th, 14:33.71) and Noah Murasmith (7th, 14:37.09) turned in lifetime bests in the 1500m as UC Riverside collected six of the top 10 spots in the event, all with six Big West qualifiers. Joshua Mendoza (4th, 14:30.82), Ashraf Abdelmagid (8th, 14:37.72) and Tyler Kaan (14:40.47) rounded out UCR's top 10 presence. 

Samantha Velazquez collected her own top 10 finish on the women's side of the 1500m, crossing the line in seventh with a time of 4:39.34. 

Collette Lowengrub broke her third 5k school record of the season, finishing fourth in the event with a 16:22.78 while Linda Perez (16:09.73) finished unattached as runner up. Norma Alvarez (17:23.31) and Victoria Ervin (17:45.05) also posted lifetime bests, as the Highlanders overall had four runners finish in the top 25. 

UCR's field crew put in a successful weekend as well with top-five finishes across multiple events. Shiloh Corrales-Nelson was fifth in the shot put with a 13.85, one of three Highlanders to finish in the top six in the event joining Karyssa Owens (4th, 13.95m) and Melissa Toilolo (6th, 13.56m). Kyan Thomas posted a top-10 finish in the long jump (9th, 6.67) while finishing third in the triple jump (14.25).

UC Riverside is back in action on March 23 and 24, hosting the UCR Spring Track Classic at the UCR Track Stadium.