Coming off of finals week and having to concentrate on competition may seem like a tough task.
This past weekend in Fresno, the women’s track team did not seem to suffer from any lingering effects of papers and exams.
Entering the meet ranked No. 6 nationally, the Bruins placed second at the Cal-Nevada Championships in Fresno.
The Bruins earned 124 points, finishing behind San Diego State with 175 points.
“After finals we were a little flat,” coach Jeanette Bolden said. “We still have a lot more work to do, especially on depth. But we had good individual marks.”
Five regional qualifiers were posted along with nine lifetime or season bests.
The highlight for the Bruins came from freshman Lindsay Rowe, who placed first in the 100 meter hurdles.
“I liked the way Lindsay competed,” Bolden said. “She didn’t do too well (Friday), but for her to really come around was great.”
Rowe’s time of 13.74 qualified her for regionals and was a personal best by over 0.30 seconds.
Senior Allison Miller won her high jump event.
“This meet was definitely a confidence booster,” Miller said. “Going into next week I know the next bar is attainable.”
Miller cleared a height of 5 feet, 7 inches. Three other athletes, including junior Maryann Wee, also reached the height. However, Miller won the event due to the least amount of misses. Wee finished fourth.
The 4x400m relay team ran to a first place finish with a time of 3:39.30. The mark achieved by junior Chanelle Curry, junior Krystin Lacy, freshman Ashlea McLaughlin and junior Nicole Leach was a season best that will qualify for regionals.
Three other Bruins achieved qualifying marks and all three were in the pole vault. Freshman Tori Anthony finished second at 13-15.75 and was followed by senior Ingrid Kantola at 13-1.50. Sophomore Tori Pena placed fifth with a height of 12-7.50.
Sophomore Danielle Watson jumped to 19-4 in the long jump en route to a third place finish. Senior Leslie Rychel came in fifth with a leap of 18-7.75.
In the javelin, sophomore Tara Ross threw 155-2 to place second. Redshirt sophomore Hillary Werth came in fourth with a throw of 134-6.
On the track there were some more impressive performances.
Chanelle Curry placed fourth in the 400m hurdles with a lifetime best of 1:01.60.
Freshman Joy Eaton ran 55.49 in the 400m to finish second.
Junior Lauren Jirges ran a season best of 4:33.04 to finish fourth in the 1,500m.
The 4x100m relay that consisted of Leach, Lacy, Rowe and senior Jolanda Diego came in second place at 46.60.
After a strong team performance at the Cal-Nevada Championships, the Bruins will shift their focus to the Stanford Invitational next weekend in Palo Alto. Individual training and more qualifying marks will be an emphasis.
“All the athletes will just get back with the coaches and go over what they are doing right and wrong,” Bolden said.