Warm weather and good competition welcomed the Broncos to the Kim Duyst Invitational as Santa Clara's track team opened up the season with a successful trip to Cal State Stanislaus on Sat., March 5th. Next up for the track team is the Aggie Open, hosted by UC Davis on Sat., March 12.
"It was a great start to the season," said Bronco head coach Felipe Montoro. "Like most teams, we are targeting meets much later in the season and the opening meet is more of a gauge of our current fitness and an opportunity work on racing skills in a competitive environment."
Freshman Ben Demaree got the meet started for the Broncos competing in his first ever steeplechase. He covered the 3000m distance and barriers in 9:44.00.
Also running well were the middle distance competitors. Sophomore Hayley Ney nearly won the women's 800m blazing the final 400m after a pedestrian opening quarter. Robbie Reid placed third in the 800m running 1:54.09, a good opening mark for the senior from Mountain View, Calif. Sophomore Guadalupe Gonzalez also ran well running 1:55.32 for his first race since last track season after missing the past cross country season with injury.
The 5000m also proved to be a bright spot on the day for SCU. Redshirt-freshman Carey Parker, competing in her first track meet as a Bronco, led the women in the 5k running 18:26.76. She was closely follow by junior Nicole Giove, who ran 18:27.26.
Freshman Moises Venegas used unleashed a devestating final 300m in the men's 5000m, moving from 8th place to 4th place and running a 15:02.55, a 53 second personal best.
Austin Jones also ran a personal best mark running 15:09.09 and freshman Luca Signore debuted well at 5k running 15:16.69. Junior Matt Savage also notched a personal best in the 5k crossing the line in 15:48.42
The Bronco middle distance runners got some speed work in competing in the 4x400m. The women ran 4:10.78 and the men ran 3:26.59.
