The Wyoming track and field team competed at three different meets this past week in California.
Highlighting the week was senior Mason Finley’s showing in the discus at the Beach Invite in Norwalk, California. His throw of 201-1 is just the second throw ever of over 200 feet by a Cowboy. That distance also puts him atop the Mountain West by 16 feet, sixth in the NCAA and 23rd in the world.
Junior Paul Thomas also competed in the event and threw 184-10, which is good enough to place him second in the Mountain West.
Other notable finishers at the Beach invite included senior Taylor Gardener’s 58.99 in the 400-meter hurdles. Redshirt junior Erin Kirby recorded a time of 1:01.43 in that same event. Sophomore Mackenzie Brogan tied her PR with a 56:00 flat in the 400 meters and senior Katy Hall finished up the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.47.
In Walnut, California at the Mt. SAC Relays, junior Kyle Sullivan competed in the decathlon. He finished with a personal best score of 6,841, which was good enough for third place.
For distance runners, junior Holly Page led the way with a personal best of 35.04 in the 10,000 meters. She broke her previous PR by a minute. Redshirt freshman Audra DeStefano recorded a time of 10:31 in the steeplechase.
“It was really exciting to see that training pay off in our team performance this past weekend,” said Page.
On the men’s side, junior Aaron Derner got a PR of his own in the 10,000 meters finishing with a time of 29:48. Senior Garret Zans completed the steeplechase in a time 8:50.
In the sprinting department, senior Audrey West crossed with a PR in the 100 meters, recording a time of 11.85.
Other notable finishers included sophomore Amos Bowen with a PR in the steeplechase with a time of 9:08. Sophomore Dylan Morin, who ran in the 10,000 meters, also had a PR with a time of 30:26. Sophomore Scott Carter finished with a 48-6 in the triple jump and senior Taylor Gardner clocked in with a 59.79 in the 400-meter hurdles.
Many runners also competed in the Beach Invite the day after, and some finished up at Mt. SAC Relays.
Last was the Bryan Clay Invite in Azusa, Calif. Graduate student Harry Fisher headlined by way of winning the 800 meters in 1:51.57.
Freshman Jordan Charles ran a PR in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 52.88. Senior Candace Wollert completed the 800 meters in 2:11.33.
“Our performances and team spirit are improving at the right time, which should help us peak at the Mountain West Conference Championships in Laramie on May 14-17,” said Page.
Wyoming’s next meet is on Saturday at the Jack Christiansen Invite, held in Fort Collins, Colo.
