TRK | PRs A-Plenty at Oxy Invite - SMC California Athletics

Saturday, May 4

Los Angeles, CA

All Day

Saint Mary's College of California

Oxy Invite

Photo by: SMC Athletics / Emily Smith

TRK | PRs A-Plenty at Oxy Invite

5/4/2024 10:18:00 PM | Men's Track and Field

LOS ANGELES — Saint Mary's track showed out at one of their final tuneups before postseason competition at the Oxy Invite, hosted by Occidental College. Seven women and 10 men competed in the event, with plenty of accolades earned throughout the day.

The Women's Team
Things got started with Molly Dreher for the women in the 1500m. Molly ran the second fastest time of any collegiate entrant in the event, and the second fastest time in SMC history at 4:22.44.

The Gael ladies really earned their stripes today in the 400m race, as both Ana Mercado and Luz Mercado threw down jaw dropping performances. Ana hit a PR of 57.22, the second fastest in program history, behind only her sister, Luz, who set the new program record at 56.40.

In the 5000m, Kaylee Barnes also hit a PR, and became just the fourth Gael in the past 3 years to break 17 minutes, with a time of 16:55.86.

Head Women's Track and Field Coach Marty Kaiser noted about the day, "The Lady Gaels rolled! Super proud of them, and we keep getting better and having the best time! It's a great time to be a Gael!"

The Men's Team
In the men's 1500m, Eric Martinez, Jason Habash and Curtis Volf competed, with Martinez pacing the group at 3:51.92, finishing second in his heat and 24th overall.

Junior Cayden Hein was the first Gael to finish in the 5000 with a time of 14:32.00 in 19th place, followed by Francisco Felix taking 23rd with a time of 14:35.06.

#GaelsRise