LAWRENCE, Kan. — Santa Clara track and field's Mary Kriege and Grayson Murphy closed out the 2016 season Saturday at the NCAA West Region Preliminary Meet at Rock Chalk Park. Kriege ran the 5k in 16:49.75 to take 12th place in her heat and 22nd place overall. Her performance capped one of the most successful careers in program history, which includes school records in the 3k, 5k and 10k distances as well as the second-fastest 1500m mark.
"Both were so incredibly tough in hot and humid conditions, having competed the day before," head coach Felipe Montoro said. "To place so much higher than they were ranked in both events speaks to their competitive nature and ability to get the most out of themselves in any environment and in any conditions. This was a great finish to an amazing season."
Each Bronco ran well above her respective seeding for the second time in as many days. Kriege was ranked 40th entering the event; Murphy took 18th place in her heat and 34th overall with a 17:09.21 after being ranked 45th entering the 5k.
"It was definitely emotional imagining our team without Mary on it anymore," Montoro said. "I'm so proud of her and happy for her and excited to see what she does next."
Kriege and Murphy were the first two female postseason qualifiers in the history of Bronco Track and Field. In their first day of competition Friday, Kriege took 22nd place in Friday's 10k and Murphy set a 3k Steeplechase school record to take 19th place.
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