LOS ANGELES — The Gaucho track and field team celebrated the end of finals week by posting a number of all-time marks at the USC Trojan Invitational, held at Loker Stadium on the campus of the University of Southern California.
The sprinters and hurdlers in particular sent some new faces into the Gaucho record books. Kelsey Bolden was the winner of Heat 2 of the 100m with the fourth-fastest time of the day. She crossed the line in 12.18, which is a new seasonal best that places her sixth on the UCSB all-time list. In the 400m, Lauren Kodama was first in Heat 4 and 14th overall with a time of 56.56, which places her ninth on the UCSB all-time list.
James Martin went sub-53 in the 400m hurdles for the second week in a row, clocking a 52.36 that earned him third in the meet and fifth on the UCSB all-time list. Drew Johnston performed well in the 400m hurdles as well by running a personal best of 53.34, which was good for fifth in the meet. Johnston also went sub-15 in the 110m hurdles for the first time on record, finishing ninth in the event with a time of 14.87.
Most of the distance runners competed in the middle distances this afternoon. Leading them was Scott Smith, who was the winner of the men’s 1500m with a time of 3:46.09. His time was more than a second faster than his nearest competitor and ranks as the fastest time in the West Region entering this weekend.
Justine Diaz ran the best race of her young collegiate career by taking second in the 800m at 2:12.69, which places her eighth on the UCSB all-time list. In the 3000m, Jessica Chadwick was the winner of the women’s race with a time of 10:35.26.
Ryan Martin took third in the men’s 800m by running 1:52.10. He was followed closely by teammate Rusty Parker, who clocked a new personal best by running 1:53.38 to take ninth.
The throws were highlighted by Michael Guerra, who cleared the 200-foot barrier in the javelin for the first time in his career. He posted a mark of 202’9″ (61.79m) to take second in the meet. Guerra’s mark places him ninth on the UCSB all-time list.
Irene Kujore set a new personal best in the shot put with her best throw measuring 48’8″ (14.83m), which moves her up to third on the UCSB all-time list. In the hammer throw, Jean Lightfoot improved on her personal best by a few inches with her mark of 174’1″ (53.06m), good for seventh place.
Jane Doolittle picked up another high jump event win with a clearance over 5’10.75″ (1.80m), which is an outdoor seasonal best that will put her among the early leaders in the West Region. The top outdoor mark in the West entering this weekend was 5’10” (1.78m).
The men’s 4x400m relay squad of Alvin Go, James Martin, André Piñon and Sean Schuster was the only squad that challenged USC, taking third place at 3:12.53 behind USC’s “A” squad (3:09.89) and “B” squad (3:12.50). Their nearest competitor was the Long Beach State squad at 3:16.75.
Next weekend the Gauchos will send most of the team to Cal/Nevada, which will be held at UCLA’s Drake Stadium. Some members of the team will head north to compete at the Stanford Invitational.
