STANFORD, Calif. — Under the lights at Cobb Track, four different Gaels saw action at the Payton Jordan Invitational. The Gaels highlighted four of their top runners, and that group did not disappoint in their second meet hosted by Stanford this season. 

Jaden DeSouza was the first Gael in action in the 400 meter hurdles. The senior has demonstrated abilities to compete in almost every track and field event in her time at Saint Mary's, but this season, has established herself as a hurdles specialist. DeSouza won the race with a blazing fast time of 59.23, her second sub-minute run, and just 0.02 second slower than the PR she set three weeks ago at San Francisco State. 

The Gaels only other top-three finisher for the day, Ana Mercado, took home second in the second section of the 800m race. Mercado, like DeSouza, ran the second fastest 800 of her career at 2:10.17, 0.85 second slower than her PR set last weekend in San Francisco. Of the two sections run, Mercado finished with the fifth fastest time at the event.

Next up, Kaylee Barnes took part in another obstacle race on the track, the 3000m steeplechase. Barnes finished sixth in the stacked field that featured runners from powerhouse programs BYU and Arkansas. Barnes finished with her second fastest career time in this race at 10:43.93. 

Rounding out the evening of racing for the Gaels was distance specialist Rayna Stanziano. The standout grad student raced in the first section of the 1500m, with yet another stellar PR race, finishing at 4:16.15. Stanziano's previous best of 4:17.15 was run on this same track three years ago. Of the 29 total racers split amongst three sections, Stanziano placed fourth overall. With her ticket already punched to regionals, Stanziano seems to be hitting her stride to make some noise in late May. 

The Gaels will next head to Southern California for the Oxy Invite, hosted by Occidental College, on May 3. 

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