TRK | Heat Wins Tell the Story at Fresno State Invite

Saturday, April 24

Fresno, CA

2:00 pm

Saint Mary's College of California

Fresno State Invitational

Photo by: Marty Kinsey

TRK | Heat Wins Tell the Story at Fresno State Invite

4/25/2021 12:12:00 PM | Men's Track and Field

FRESNO, Calif. — In their final track meet before the WCC Distance Carnival, Saint Mary's Track went back to Fresno on Saturday and raced into the evening at the Fresno State Invite. Saint Mary's continued to set personal records at the home of the bulldogs, but they also began scoring some heat wins, including one particular heat win that was scored in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.

SUPERMAN!
The most exciting victory of the day came in the 1500m, as Chandler Maciel pulled off one of the most stunning wins of the entire invite. Maciel was racing neck-and-neck with Cal's redshirt runner Cole Sawires Yager, and entered the final portion of the race trailing by less than a second. As the two approached the finish line, they decided that running was not the best way to hold off the other, as they both gave a lunge forward and went fully-extended at the finish line. Both resembled Superman with their efforts at the line, but it was Maciel who prevailed by three one-hundredths of a second for his first heat win of 2021. The junior finished 12^th overall in the 1500 meter with a mark of 3:56.16, scoring one of the many PRs for the Gaels.

REST OF THE WINNERS
Any conversation about winners should revolve around Rayna Stanziano, who continued her dominance in 2021 by winning her heat in the 800 meter race. Not only did she win the entire race, but she set another school record, besting her own mark with a time of 2:08.18. Derek D'Amelia scored a win in his heat of the 800 meter with a time of 1:58.20, back on the women's side, Hannah Wohlenberg was again strong as she ran a shorter race this time around, taking first in her heat of the 800 meter with a time of 2:15.68. All times from the heat winners also stood as personal bests.

REST OF THE PRs
800m PRs
Abigayle Mitchell – 2:10.32 (6^th)
Anthony Vazquez – 1:57.22 (16^th)
Thomas Osborne – 1:58.33
Payton Fox – 1:59.50
Diego Huerta – 2:04.67

1500m PRs
Jiana Cortero – 4:53.99 (22^nd)
Mariam Samara – 5:14.75
Nolan Dozier – 3:48.71 (3^rd, third-fastest time in SMC history)
Moses Bojorquez – 4:00.31 (17^th)
Richard McLain – 4:15.59

UP NEXT
The Gaels won't be in action again until Saturday, May 8 when they take part in the WCC Distance Carnival, one of their best chances to show what they have against the best of the conference. It stands as the penultimate weekend of the season, as they will split their squad up for a pair of last chance meets to end the season on May 15.

#GaelsRise