The Santa Clara track team enjoyed another successful weekend as they earned a number of personal bests and new marks on the top 10 all time lists, while competing under the lights at the Chico State Twilight Invitational.
Senior Hayley Ney completed her first 800m race of the season, ultimately winning the second section of the meet and securing a personal best time in the process, 2:14.69. Ney, more accustomed to the pace of the 1500 and 5k, came through the bell lap with a conservative 67 second split, but had already moved passed five other athletes along the straightaway, putting herself into good position to win in the last lap. Ney made a move with 200 meters left, never relenting her lead.
"Hayley ran a fantastic race," said Bronco head coach Felipe Montoro. "She did a great job competing, and is starting to run her best races of the season at the right time.
Sophomore Allie Sibole ran a very aggressive opening lap, splitting close to 63 seconds en route to her season best 2:18.98.
Four Bronco women managed top 12 performances in the 5,000-meter event. Junior Lauren Germany earned a 7th place finish in 17:54.27, with teammates Emily Robinson, Allison Maio, and Kelly Ryan following respectively in 9th, 10th, and 12th. Robinson secured a new personal best time, 18:05.07. Maio also dropped one second off her previous best, running 18:08.55.
As for the men's team, freshman Alexi Taylor ran a new personal best in the 800 meter event 1:56.77, which was good for an 11th place finish.
Sophomore Bryan Crook, ran his first race since the NCAA West Regional Cross Country meet in November, and finished in the 5,000 meter race in 15:12.49 with a personal best and 8th place finish overall.
"Bryan had some bumps in the road over the last few months, and while he's lacked consistency in his training due to some injury issues, he handled it like a veteran," said Montoro. "He's a competitive guy and races with a ton of courage. The goal is to keep him healthy through the spring, and I think some more time will drop off that mark."
Freshman Adrian Hinojosa made his 5,000-meter debut, running 15:30.31. Sophomore Sean Roe followed close behind in 15:33.99.
