The Bronco track team traveled to Sacramento State for the Sac State Open on Saturday and due to strong winds the team ran more for the challenge of competition than times, but still racked up another couple personal bests as they prepare for the West Coast Invitational next weekend.

"I though we got out of the meet what we needed. Strong winds made us focus more on competing than trying to run fast times, which is important heading into the championship portion of our season," said Bronco head coach Felipe Montoro.

 

Sophomore Allie Sibole provided the lone victory of the meet for Santa Clara. Sibole won the 1500m event in 4:40.53. She was followed by junior Hayley Ney in third (4:43.40), and a pair of freshman in Jenn Nakamura and Mary Kriege who were fourth and fifth in new personal bests. Nakamura was timed in 4:49.27 and Kriege was 4:49.34. Also running well was sophomore Kayla Germany who won heat two in 5:01.73.

 

Senior Erin McCarthy tuned up for the West Coast Invite next week with a fourth place showing in the 800m (2:12.79) and junior Erin Hartwig was eighth in 2:18.11.

 

For the men, senior Richard Zhu was fourth in the 1500m (4:03.88) and fellow senior Austin Jones was sixth in 4:08.17. Junior Kevin Oliver led a Bronco sweep of the second section kicking hard for the win in 4:09.99 ahead of freshman Sean Roe in second (4:11.12) and senior Chris Sampson in 3rd (4:12.36).

Sophomore Moises Venegas was third in the 5000m, finishing in 15:40.76.

 

Both teams are now preparing to send their top athletes this season to compete against the best the WCC has to offer at the West Coast Invite next week.