FRESNO, Calif. and PHILADELPHIA, Penn. – SMC Track and Field were on opposite sides of the country this weekend, as a handful of Gaels headed to Philadelphia for the Penn Relays, while the rest of the squads headed to the central valley for the Fresno State Invite. 
 
BIG TIME THROWS
In the field events, Gavin Voskamp competed in the shot put for the Gaels. In a field of 19 throwers, Voskamp finished 13^th with a 14.16m throw. Utah State's Gavin Beierle won the event with a 16.98m throw. 
 
PENN GAME STRONG
Just four Gaels headed to Philly for the prestigious Penn Relays. Klara Frih, Jaden DeSouza, Penelopea Gordon, and Molly Dreher made the trip, as the foursome competed in the Women's Distance Medley on Friday, and the 4x800 relay on Saturday. 
 
In the Distance Medley, the Gaels put up a solid showing, finishing 9^th out of 16 relays with a time of 11:52.87, setting a school record in the process. 
 
The formidable foursome did it again on Saturday in the 4x800 relay, as the Gaels finished 8^th out of 14 teams with a 9:03.42, once again setting a new school record in the event. 
 
BUSY IN FRESNO
Back in California, the rest of the track and field squads were busy beating the heat at the Fresno State Invite. 
 
The first event for the Gaels on Saturday was the 400m, as three runners from the women's side competed in the event.
 
Maddie Fletcher led the way for SMC, finishing 19^th out of 29 runners, and smashing her personal best by two seconds, going under the minute mark with a 59.41. 
 
Two more Gaels crossed the line soon after, as Maddie Dwyer came home in 27^th with a 1:02.23, and Piper Kunesh in 28^th in a 1:04.58. 
 
Next up was the 800m, as a handful runners from the men's side took on the discipline. 
 
Graduate student Reinder Prince was the quickest Gael, coming in 17^th out of 37 runners with a 1:54.72. Not only was the time a personal best from his 800m two weeks ago at the Mike Fanelli Classic, but it was also the quickest 800m from a Gael this season. 
 
Prince's teammate Noah Pagaran wasn't far behind, as he crossed the line in 21^st in a time of 1:56.13. Next for SMC were Eric Martinez and Jason Habash, as Martinez finished in 23^rd with a 1:57.25, and Habash in 25^th with a 1:57.77. 
 
Payton Fox was in 30^th after running a 1:59.59, and Raphael Lobo and Isaiah Jimenez brought it home in 36^thand 37^th with times of 2:12.41 and 2:17.12 respectively. 
 
The 200m sprint was up next, with four Gaels on the women's side competing in the short discipline. Maddie Fletcher was the quickest of the bunch, as she finished 35^th out of 46 runners with a personal best 26.79.
 
Not far behind was Piper Kunesh, who snatched 41^st in a time of 29.02, another personal best. A trio of Gaels rounded out the field, with McKenna Burrows in 43^rd with a personal best 29.54, Lotte Van Schaik in 44^th with a 29.76, and Natalia Nathan in 46^th with a 30.12.
 
UNDER THE (NIGHT) LIGHTS
As the sun began to go down in Fresno, the Gaels began to pick up the pace.
 
The men's 1600 relay featured a SMC foursome consisting of Reinder Prince, Jason Habash, Eric Martinez, and Noah Pagaran. Out of seven relays squads, the SMC team finished 6^th with a time of 3:23.49.
 
The last event of the day for the Gaels was the 1500m. Just about every runner from the men's and women's sides competed in the discipline, and there were plenty of personal bests to be had. 
 
On the women's side, it was a competitive field made up of 49 runners, as six Gaels competed in the discipline. Dani Rowlinson led the way for SMC, as she finished 10^th in a personal best time of 4:37.34. 
 
Kaylee Barnes ran the event for the first time in college and won her heat while doing it, finishing 24^th in a time of 4:43.79. Anna Ranieri crossed the line next in 36^th, setting a new personal best by one second with a 4:53.10. 
 
Sofia Cuevas and Emily Field were next to finish for the Gaels, as Cuevas claimed 39^th in a personal best time of 4:56.50, and Field in 43^rd in a time of 5:03.56. 
 
Callie Buchanan rounded out the field for SMC as she finished 49^th in a time of 5:41.42. 
 
On the men's side, Blaine Reynolds won his heat with a blistering 3:53.22 to finish 11^th place. Not only was it a two second best, but was the fastest time by a Gael this season. 
 
A trio of Gaels followed, as Thomas Osborne finished 23^rd, Richard McLain behind him in 24^th, and lastly Cayden Hein in 25^th. Osborne finished in a personal best 3:59.06, McLain in a personal best 3:59.74, and Hein in a personal best 3:59.98. 
 
Jacob Bravo won his heat, as he placed 36^th in a personal time of 4:07.70. His teammate Jackson Seubert was right behind him in 37^th in a time 4:07.93. 
 
A few spots back was Luke Bland, claiming 39^th in 4:08.75, a four second improvement. Aidan Donovan was behind him 41^st with a personal best as well, clocking a 4:09.41. 
 
Max Barnes and Bryan Cromartie soon followed, with Barnes in 44^th with a 4:14.25, and Cromartie right behind him in 45^th with a 4:15.77.
 
Two Gaels rounded out the field, as Troy Coulston finished 48^th with Angel Castro right behind him in 49^th. Coulston was right on his best time with a 4:17.29, and Castro finished with a 4:19.08.
 
NEXT UP
It's crunch time for the Gaels as they near closer to the end of the season. SMC are close home next weekend as the team's head to Hayward for the West Coast Last Chance Meet on May 7.