ANDERSON, S.C. – What a difference a week can make. After competing in cold, snowy conditions last weekend, the LMU track and field teams took advantage of the sunny warmth of South Carolina to record a national qualifying time, multiple school records, and almost every athlete recording a new personal record.
 
"The team was able to compete in much more favorable conditions, and took advantage of it. I'm proud of how they competed today," commented Director of Track and Field Rochelle Black.
 
After running a national qualifying time twice during the indoor season, Roberto Fajardo was at it again, as his 1:50.40 in the men's 800m puts him in position to potentially compete at Nationals in May. Fajardo's time also set a new school record and was good enough to win the event outright, but he wasn't the only podium finisher for LMU, as Spencer Baldwin put together a third-place finish in a personal best time of 1:54.79. Khotsofalo Pheko finished thirteenth in 1:57.50. Jacey Grabeel ran a 2:22.84 setting his new PR in the event.
 
"Roberto's 800 was the highlight of our distance group. Sam Peters helped pace the field through 400 meters and set Roberto up to run fast, and from there, it was all heart," head distance coach Evan Darm said. "He has had his eyes on 1:50 for some time, so it's awesome seeing him run such a big time in mid-April." 
 
Destiny Gibbs also set a new school record, and also came away with a first-place finish, as she did both in the women's 400m. Gibbs ran a 57.77 to beat the previous school record by almost a half of a second, while also winning the event by over a tenth of a second. Grace Mathis placed fourth in the event, running a personal best time of 58.68, good for third all-time in LMU history.
 
"What is crazy about the twins (Destiny and Grace) is that they run their tails off, then say they can do more," remarked Black. "Most runners would pass out or avoid running, but they have really embraced running through their goals."
 
Gibbs and Mathis were back at it in the women's 200m, with each again setting new PRs. Gibbs ran a 26.40 to place tenth, while Mathis was thirteenth in 26.49. Ashlee Lewis ran a PR time of 26.68 to take sixteenth, and Mataylin Goins (28.08) and Lidija Djokic (28.27) both also ran personal best times.
 
In the women's 100m hurdles, Elizabeth Close crossed in fifth, running a personal best time of 15.35, placing her in second place in LMU history in the event. Goins also set a PR in the event, running a 17.14.
 
"She probably is beating herself up, but Mataylin did well today. She's got the makings of a really good hurdler, but it takes time," stated Black. "She's got good teammates in Micah Sells and Elizabeth Close to work with, so it's safe to say she's in good hands."
 
In the women's 400m hurdles, Lidija Djokic placed sixth and ran a personal best time of 1:07.40, putting her fourth in the LMU record books. In the men's 400m hurdles, Patrick Zuralski continued to cut his times down, as he ran a 58.64 today and finished tenth.
 
Ashlee Lewis set her second PR of the day, this time in the women's 100m, as she ran a 12.93.
 
In the women's 800m, four athletes set new PRs, and two pick up top-10 finishes. Katilee Croft placed fourth in a personal best time of 2:17.74 and Harper Russell was ninth in a PR time of 2:21.10. Grace Rose ran a 2:29.01, Kirsten Keith finished in 2:41.42 to set a new PR, and Megyn Spicer set her new personal record time with a 2:42.49.
 
In the women's 1500m, Elke Wijkmans paced the six LMU runner by running a personal best time of 4:55.76 to place eleventh. Harper Russell (4:59.21) and Grace Rose (5:02.01) were close behind in fourteenth and sixteenth, with each setting new PRs in the process. Kirsten Keith ran a 5:37.28 and Kiley Holmes ran a 5:48.39.
 
On the men's side in the 1500m, two runners placed top-10 and five set new personal records. Khotsofalo Pheko was eighth, crossing in 3:58.92 and Mason Johns was right behind in ninth, running a personal best time of 3:58.96. Caleb Rigney was twelfth, as he ran his PR time of 4:00.83. Marig Engelbrecht (4:06.43), Benjamin Trimm (4:14.45), and Isaac Korir (4:17.72) all recorded personal best times as well in the event.
 
"For the distance crew, I loaded them in the middle-distance races, hoping to work on our speed and race tactics," Darm mentioned. "The new facility was really nice and everyone came ready to attack."
 
In the final field events of the day, both the men and the women competed in the 4x400m relays. For the women, the quartet of Harper Russell, Megyn Spicer, Grace Rose, and Katilee Croft finished eighth with a time of 4:21.04. For the men, Sam Peters, Spencer Baldwin, Chris Buford, and Patrick Zuralski teamed up for an eleventh place finish in a time of 3:37.53.
 
In the field, it was once again Lauren Smith and Nathan McBride competing in the throws. McBride ended the day by setting a new school record in the men's hammer throw, launching it 32.07m, besting the previous mark by over two meters. He also threw his fourth best discus, by going 31.79m. On the women's side, Smith also threw well, putting together her third best hammer throw of her career, 37.10m, finishing ninth in the event, and throwing the fifth best discus of her career, 32.77m, while finishing eleventh in that event.
 
"Nathan had to wait all day to throw, and his last throw was his best. He's got some time to continue improving," commented Black.
 
UP NEXT
The LMU track and field teams have their final meet before SAC Championships, as they travel to Lenoir-Rhyne University for the LR Outdoor Open next Saturday.
 
How to Follow
Stay tuned to LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms - @LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram, for complete coverage of Railsplitter and Lady Railsplitter track and field throughout the 2021-22 season.