SAN FRANCISCO — 16 Gaels recorded PRs on the track at San Francisco State, as Saint Mary's took home fifth place out of the 14 teams competing at the Mathis Invitational. Six different Gaels won their heats, while six others went on to finish top three overall in their races in what was yet another strong performance by the Gaels, who continue to shave seconds off their times to try and vie for more regional bids.

Regina Molitoris got the day going competing in the discus and shotput, scoring in both for the Gaels with an eighth place finish in the discus throw and a fifth place finish in the shotput. The 1500m was the first race of the day for Saint Mary's, and as per usual, Rayna Stanziano stood head and shoulder above the field with a 4:26.86 time, good for first overall.. Eleanor Jepsen (3rd), Emily Field (9th) and Andrea Villegas (10th) each also scored for the Gaels with PR times in the race. Jepsen threw down a time of 4:37.63, Field came in at 4:49.18, and Villegas rounded out the top-10 with a time of 4:50.07. Elle Shrader won her heat with a time of 4:57.69, while Elizabeth Nip (5:05.91) and Jane Carney (5:09.83) both PRd. 

Klara Frih and Allie Davis-Libiano both scored for Saint Mary's in the 400m, placing in third and ninth respectively. Frih set a blazing fast new PR with her first sub minute 400 at 59.87. The 800m race, however, was where the Gaels shined the brightest. With nine runner competing, SMC had four of the top five finishers, led by Jaden DeSouza and Ana Mercado, who finished 1-2 with PR times of 2:08.43 and 2:09.32 respectively. Rayna Stanziano took third, while Eleanor Jepsen finished in fifth, also with a PR of 2:19.52. DeSouza, Mercado and Stanziano all ran sub-2:10, the first time the Gaels have accomplished that feat in a single season, let alone a single race. Andrea Villegas and Michaela Martin both won their heats in the 800m race as well, finishing in 13th and 19th respectively, with PRs of 2:24.96 and 2:27.87. Rounding things out, Britney Perera and Jane Carney both competed in their first collegiate 400m hurdles races, finishing in sixth and eighth respectively at 1:13.59 and 1:18.53.

The Gaels will be back in action next Friday at the Payton Jordan, hosted by Stanford.

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