FRESNO, Calif. – Six CSUB Top 20 performances and several personal bests highlighted the strongest track meet of the season for CSU Bakersfield. The Roadrunners wrapped up the regular season with an excellent showing at the Bulldog Invitational on Saturday.
“We had a great meet and our conference prospects are looking great!” said Marcia Mansur-Wentworth, Director of Track and Field for CSUB. “This was the best meet across the board we have had in a long time! We are looking forward to the Conference meet.”
Men
Joselito Flores reset his personal best in the high jump in Fresno. The sophomore's 6-09.50 mark earned Flores the win on Saturday while moving him up to eighth all-time for the 'Runners in the event. The native of Fairfield, Calif. also recorded the third-best mark this season in the Western Athletic Conference.
Tristan Watson also moved up the CSUB all-time ranks on Saturday with a time of 14.87 in the 110-meter hurdles. The native of Bakersfield tied his father, Johnny Watson (1990), for 16th all-time for the 'Runners with the mark on Saturday.
Michael Lovato lowered his personal best in the 800 by almost a whole second with a time of 1:55.02. Lovato joined his teammates in climbing the all-time ranks while placing third in Fresno. The senior moved from just outside the Top 20 to 18th with the time in Fresno.
Anthony Jones ran well, missing his personal best in the 100-meter dash by just 0.02 seconds (11.15). Jones did go on to tie his personal best (22.90) in the 200 later in the day. Freshman Gabe Gaeta missed his personal best by less than a tenth of a second in a fourth-place finish in the 400 hurdles (55.76).
Sophomore Alec Benavides placed second in the javelin on Saturday. Benavides' mark of 172-02 was his second-best throw of the season.
Women
Redshirt senior Madison Bundy improved her personal best in the javelin by over five feet with a mark of 140-11. The throw helped Bundy place fourth on Saturday and move into fourth all-time for the Roadrunners in just her first season with the track and field team after completing her softball career. The native of Anacortes, Wash. is now just seven feet short of the school record.
Senior Audrena Harlan improved her PR in the triple jump to 37-09.25 on Saturday. Harlan's mark in the seventh-place finish improved her previous best by eight inches and moved the native of Antioch, Calif. into the CSUB Top 10 all-time.
Junior Tori Blackmon lowered her season best in the 1500 by 14 seconds to 5:09.34, finishing first for the 'Runners and 12th overall. Sophomore Angel Valdez was the lone 'Runner in the 3000 and improved her personal best mark by 12 seconds to 10:34.90.
Senior Tricia Cervantes posted a season best time of 15.12 in the 100-meter hurdles, improving her previous time by 0.14 seconds. Cervantes went on to post a personal best in the long jump with a mark of 17-02.00. The senior captain is setting herself up well to earn All-Conference honors in the heptathlon again.
Redshirt junior Marina Emhoff also recorded a season best 58.02 in the 400 as the Bakersfield native continues a hunt for another All-WAC honor. Sophomore Micaiah Lugo missed a personal best in the hammer throw by just one foot and one inch with a toss of 144-04 on Saturday. Lugo went on to PR in the javelin by six feet with a mark of 88-07.
With the regular season complete, the Roadrunners will have the next two and a half weeks to train for the WAC Outdoor Championships. The Conference meet will be held in Kansas City, Mo., May 11-14.
~GoRunners.com~
