JOHNSON CITY, TENN. and WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – What a weekend it was for the LMU track and field programs. The team traveled to two different meets, and made their presence felt in both places, despite competing against multiple division I opponents. Overall, the teams combined to run two national qualifying times, set six new school records, and record 27 new personal bests!
 
"Even though the team was split, it seemed as though we were more together than ever," stated director of track and field Rochelle Black, "I can't think of a low note on the weekend, it was just a great meet across the board."
 
Roberto Fajardo and Khotsofalo Pheko both ran national qualifying times on Saturday, setting new school records in the process. Fajardo won the 800m race as he ran a 1:53.51, putting him in position to run at nationals. Pheko did the same thing, but in the mile. He ran a school best time 4:10.61, placing fourth in the race, and also setting himself up to run at nationals.
 
Fajardo's time qualifies as a 1:51 after being converted from the flat track of JDL. Since the track is smaller and there are more turns, the times there get converted to what they would be on a normal track, and Fajardo's time of 1:53 is able to be converted to a 1:51. Pheko beat the qualifying time of 4:10.99 by over three-tenths of a second.
 
"Khotsofalo and Roberto hitting the NCAA D2 Provisional standard is a huge accomplishment for the team," head coach Evan Darm remarked. "These two guys work really hard to not only be great runners, but to be students of the sport and understand how to race at a high level. They are helping put LMU on the map nationally."
 
Elizabeth Close got things started off quickly on Thursday. Close set a new school record in the pentathlon, scoring 2790 points to place 6th in the event. She set personal bests in the shot put (8.18m). She also scored high in the 60m hurdles (9.23 seconds), long jump (4.78m), high jump (1.37m), and 800m (2:43.24).
 
Close carried that momentum over to Friday, as both she and Micah Sells qualified for the Saturday's finals in the 60m hurdles. Sells ran a 9.22, while Close was right behind at 9.28. In the finals, Close ran a personal best, running a 9.22 to place third. Sells did not race in the finals, as she was in other events during the day.
 
"Elizabeth kicked things off and really showed out," remarked Black. "For her to compete at a high level for three days, is just simply phenomenal."
 
Running in just her second meet of the year, Ashlee Lewis picked up her first PR of the day by running an 8.39 second 60m dash.
 
The first record of the day was broken by Destiny Gibbs in the 400m. Gibbs ran 59.98 to qualify for the finals on Saturday afternoon. Grace Mathis also qualified for the finals by running a personal best 1:00.45 in the event. Lidija Djokic just missed running her PR, and finished at 1:03.89.
 
In the finals on Saturday afternoon, Gibbs and Mathis both broke the school record Gibbs set the day before. Gibbs reset the mark at 59.18, as she placed fourth, while Mathis ran a new PR of 59.80, which is now 2nd all-time in school history in the event.
 
"There's a lot that can be said for Destiny and Grace in regards to this weekend. Simply put, they decided lay it all on the line from the gun," Black stated. "Seeing their times flash on the screen was a long time coming. Two ladies under a minute in the 400, and both in the top 5 in the SAC, they've earned it."
 
Sam Peters continued the trend of setting new personal bests, as he set his new 400m PR with a time of 51.40 seconds. Chris Buford was just off his own PR, as he ran a 53.95.
 
In the field, Nathan McBride continued his climb up the record books, as he broke the school record in the weight throw, which was also previously held by him, with a throw of 10.94 meters.
 
"I think Sam has the ability to work himself into one of the top 8 400 meter runners in the conference. He's worked hard and pushed himself, we just have to continue to progress," Black declared. "Nathan continues to improve in the throws. He's going to let a huge throw go before season's end, it's just a matter of time."
 
Destiny Gibbs and Ashlee Lewis both ran another good race, this time in the 200m. Her time of 26.65 was .02 off her PR. Ashlee Lewis picked up her second PR of the day in the event, running a 27.03.
 
The day at ETSU closed out with two more personal bests, both in the 5000m. For the women, Lillian Turley ran a 21:59.69 for her new PR. Benjamin Trimm also set his PR, running a 16:15.64 in the men's 5000m.
 
Amelia Lorrey closed out the track events on Friday in Winston-Salem, as she placed eighth by running a personal best time in the 5000m with an 18:28.37.
 
"I think that the team has really embraced the idea of working past their physical limits and working through barriers they didn't know existed," Black commented. "From long runs on the trails, to jumps in the pit, and even laps in the arena, they've all accepted the notion that we'll get better each day…regardless of the circumstance. This weekend was as much fun for me to watch as it was for them to see their work."
 
Saturday was more of the same. It started out with the women's 3000m at ETSU, which saw Elke Wijkmans run a PR time of 10:47.99. Gillian Strealy also set a personal best at 11:54.16 and Kiley Holmes was right behind her at 11:56.89.
 
In the men's 3000m, Caleb Rigney set a new PR, placing fifth, and running an 8:56.72. Marig Engelbrecht ran a 9:25.18, and Isaac Korir was right behind him running his new PR or 9:29.76.
 
Over in Winston-Salem, Brooke Foster was also setting a PR in the 3000m, as she ran a 10:31.28, which places her second all time in school history.
 
Also in North Carolina, Gidion Sigei and Mason Johns both had good days in the 3000m. Sigei set another school record, finishing in 8:31.55, while Johns set a personal record with a time of 8:42.28.
 
"I am extremely proud of everyone's performance this weekend. Once the calendar hits February, it's time to crank the racing up a notch," said Darm. "We had a lot of gutsy performances and that shows with all of the personal bests throughout the program."
 
Kirsten Keith ran the mile for the women, setting a new personal best in the process, as she crossed the line in 6:01.73.
 
Jacey Grabeel also set his PR in the men's mile, running a 5:30.65.
 
The final individual races of the day were the 800m. Katilee Croft and Grace Rose both set their new personal bests in the event, and both claimed top-10 finishes. Croft was fourth, with a time of 2:26.96, while Rose was seventh, with a time of 2:30.81.
 
In the 800m men's race, Spencer Baldwin earned a podium spot, placing third with a personal best time of 1:56.67.
 
The weekend closed out with PRs for the two LMU relay teams. First, the women's 4x400m relay team of Destiny Gibbs, Micah Sells, Grace Mathis, and Lidija Djokic ran a 4:04.19 for the group's new best, and good enough to take 7th. That was followed by the men's 4x400m relay team of Spencer Baldwin, Chris Buford, Sam Peters, and Khotsofalo Pheko, running a 3:30.93.
 
"We left ETSU and JDL with too many personal records to count," said Black. The one thing I'm sure of is that we are for sure move in the right direction. With 3 weeks until conference championships, we'll continue to work."
 
 
UP NEXT
The LMU indoor track and field programs competes again next weekend, as they once again head to Salem, Virginia to compete at Roanoke College.
 
How to Follow
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