Bronco Track Finishes Season Strong with Two School Records, Eight Personal Bests

Posted: May 14, 2012

Results from West Coast Conference Challenge

Led by new school records in the women's 1500m and 10000m by two underclassmen, the Bronco track teams enjoyed a solid showing at the West Coast Invite on Saturday in Salem, Ore.

"I was really pleased with how we ended our season," said Bronco head track coach Felipe Montoro. "Of the 15 student-athletes that competed, eight ran personal bests, two set school records and all 15 were very focused and executed their race plans as best as they could. The team's effort and intensity was outstanding. It was also great to have so much support at the meet. There were so many family and friends at the competition that it definitely contributed to the team's solid performances."

School record holder Allie Sibole, a sophomore from Eugene, Ore., placed seventh overall in the women's 1500m. Shattering her own school record, she finished in a time of 4:34.08, more than a second under her previous Bronco school record set earlier this year of 4:35.26. Senior Erin McCarthy, doubling back from the 800m, placed eighth in 4:39.56. Also doubling back from the 800m was junior Erin Hartwig, who finished in 4:47.86.

In the women's 800m, McCarthy led the way in fifth place, running 2:12.76. McCarthy was hoping to improve her mark of 2:09.85, but fell short in what was a tremendous senior season in which she lowered her personal best in the 800m by five seconds. Hartwig won the second section of the women's 800m in a personal best time of 2:16.55, placing third in the same heat was senior Jenny Light. Light set a new personal best in her last race for the Broncos, finishing in 2:17.55.

In the women's 5000m, sophomore Kayla Germany won the second section by 17 seconds, running 18:30.30.

Conditions were ideal for the evening sections, however in both the men's and women's 5000m B sections the warm weather was a factor. Junior and Oregon native Hayley Ney ran her second 5000m of the season and set a new personal best by 32 seconds, running 17:24.23 placing 10th in the A heat.

The 10,000m was also a highlight for the team. Freshman Mary Kriege lowered the women's 10,000m school record set by Whitney Porter in 2009, crossing the tape in 37.12.50. It was the first attempt at the distance for the Archbishop Mitty product.

Senior Nicole Giove also competed in the 10000m, completing the race in 39:42.52 in her last Bronco track race.

The men's 800m had junior Matt Mosier competing in section 2. Mosier finished third in his heat in 1:57.78. Senior Richard Zhu closed out his career with 4:03.27 in the 1500m. Zhu, from Medford Oregon graduates No. 2 all-time in the 1500m, a mark he achieved in 2011.

In the men's 5,000m, senior Austin Jones finished in 15:29.72. Jones also graduates No. 2 all time at SCU in the 5,000m.

Also running a very competitive race in last race in a Bronco uniform as a senior, Chris Sampson ran the 5,000m in 15:26.90.

Freshman Bryan Crook ran a personal best in the B heat wining the race in dominant fashion in the 5,000m. Crook was timed in 15:16.48.

The men's 10,000m had two Santa Clara student-athletes. Junior Kevin Oliver and sophomore Moises Venegas both set set new personal bests in the event. Oliver finished in 30:56.18 for eighth place and Venegas in 31:21.01 for ninth place.