NORTHRIDGE, Calif.? The Alaska Anchorage track and field team posted 20 personal career-bests and 15 top-10 finishes at the Northridge Invitational on Saturday. The Seawolves performances were highlighted by freshman Cory Pena and senior James Pettigrew qualifying provisionally for the NCAAs in the 800 meters.
Pena placed in second in the event with a time of 1:52.65, bypassing the provisional mark of 1:53.00. Pettigrew was clocked at one minute, 52.86 seconds for a third-place finish. Both Pena and Pettigrew need to run a time of 1:50.00 or faster for the automatic qualification.
Improving upon his 1500 meter time was sophomore Marko Cheseto. Cheseto bested his career-high 3:53.02 time by about a second and a half with a new time of 3:51.52 for second place. Cheseto needs to run a 3:47.00 or faster in order to run the 1500 at Nationals. (Cheseto already qualified in the 5000m.)
Also posting top-10 finishes and career-bests in the 1500 was senior David Kiplagat (4th, 3:53.41), freshman Alfred Kangogo (5th, 3:53.97), senior Mick Boyle (6th, 3:54.13) and senior Auston Ellis (28th, 4:11.09).
Sophomore Shaun Ward set a PR in the 400m hurdles with a time of 54.60 for fourth and freshman Thomas Hill (1:55.42) recorded his fastest time in the 800 for sixth.
On the women's side, the Seawolves top-finish was recorded by freshman Stephanie Trenholm in the 800m. Trenholm posted a 6th place performance in a time of 2:16.08 for her career-best. Freshman Mychaela Bailey set a PR in the same event with a time of 2:23.88, while sophomore Natalie Pfeifer (2:26.84) ran her fastest 800.
In the 100m hurdles, freshman Lauren Laichak (15.61) and junior Meagan Friess (15.70) both set a PR. Three Seawolves posted career-highs in the 1500m; sophomore Hallidie Wilt (4:52.67), Miriam Kipngeno (5:00.42) and freshman Shoshana Keegan (5:01.38).
The Seawolves will have a week off to prepare for the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif. on March 27-28.
