Click here for Full results of the Distance Carnival
Click here for Full results of the Twilight Invitational
The Santa Clara track team traveled north to compete in the Chico Distance Carnival and the Chico Twilight on April 8 and 9 at Chico State. In ideal conditions a slew of Broncos set personal best for the third consecutive week. The Bronco track team returns to competition April 16 for the Woody Wilson Invite hosted by UC Davis.
Competing on Friday night (April 8) in the women's 800m, freshman Allie Sibole continued her strong season, placing fourth overall in 2:18.02. The sixth-eighth places were all Broncos: Hayley Ney (2:19.80), Jenny Light (2:20.29) and Erin Hartwig (2:21.32).
In the men's 800m, Guadalupe Gonzalez lowered his personal best to 1:53.77, placing fifth overall.
Freshman Ben Demaree was unchallenged in the men's steeplechase as he ran away to the victory in only his third attempt at the event. Demaree ran 9:33.65 and was followed in fifth place by Nhunguyen Le in 9:58.04.
The men's 5000m event saw six of the nine Bronco men competing run lifetime bests. They were led by Robbie Reid who crossed the line in 14:56.71. Austin Jones ran under 15:00 for the first time in his career dropping 11 seconds off his previous best to finish in 14:58.41, good for fifth all-time at SCU. Freshman Moises Venegas was just of his best of 15:02 as he finished in 15:06.38. Freshman Luca Signore dropped four seconds of his previous PR to run 15:12.06 and Chris Sampson lowered his PR by 19 seconds running 15:13.86. Marcos Hinojosa set a lifetime best of 15:42.70 in only his second race of the season and freshman Peter Stephens dropped nine seconds from his PR to finish in 15:48.76. Gareth Morl also set a lifetime best running 15:53.22.
The women's 5000m also provided personal records. Nicole Giove had the best race in her Bronco career running with the lead pack most of the race and finishing fourth overall. Giove used a strong final 200m to dip under the 18:00 barrier running 17:58.65. Freshman Kayla Germany had the biggest improvement of any Santa Clara athlete on the evening. Germany dropped 38 seconds from her PR, running 18:39.98. Melissa Conlin ran a seasonal best of 18:43.61 and Monica Coen PR'd at 19:35.06.
The second night of the meet also was full of personal bests for the team. In the 1500m race sophomore Matt Mosier closed in 60 seconds for the final 400m to win his section in a 4:07.42. Also competing in the men's 1500m and running well were Richard Zhu (3:59.98) and Josh Hernandez (4:01.97).
In the women's 1500m Sibole ran even better than the previous evening. Sibole ran with the lead pack the entire race and finished in third overall in a lifetime best of 4:43.66. Hayley Ney finished in 4:48.85 and Erin Hartwig had her best race of the season finishing in 4:50.66.
Freshman Jamie Anderson ran an eight-second personal best to tie for the win in her heat, running 4:56.18. Megan Murnane also set a lifetime best, finishing in 4:58.26.
