Track and Field Develops Mid-Season Momentum at Billiken Invite
Saint Louis – This past weekend the Griffins had a unique achievement for a track and field program: every Griffin athlete who competed at the Saint Louis University Billiken Invite this Friday and Saturday had a personal or seasonal best. "More importantly than times and marks, every person competed really well this weekend," said head coach Kelli Blake.
In the middle distances, senior Jessica Brock had a seasonal best in the 800m. Underclassmen Cristian Sellars and Chris Brown each had personal bests in the 1500m. Sellars took 3 seconds off his previous best and Brown took two seconds off his best while running an erratically-paced race.
Alyssa Tonner had a season best in 5000m, placing 13th in a time of 18:43. Running in the second heat, Tonner closed hard in the last lap for the heat win. Justin Horneker ran 16:27 in the 5000m, falling off a faster pace with 1200m to go but still holding it together to establish a respectable season best.
Becca Buehler battled to the line to win her heat of the 400m hurdles, placing 5th overall in a time 68.49. Buehler's performance betters the school record she established last week by almost two seconds. "Becca has worked hard on technique in practice. She transferred that into an awesome performance this weekend. She ran a clean race while she ran with confidence," commented sprints coach Myreon Sartin.
Doan Trieu, in transition from short sprints to long sprints, raced two personal bests in both the 200m and 400m.
Gunter DeZurik bettered his shot put performance from last week by a full meter, throwing 10.48m.
Dallas Haywood made his debut for Griffins track in the long jump, establishing a new school record in the event.