SPOKANE, Wash. - A day which kept most marks low because of windy conditions nonetheless saw Gonzaga University's track team set and tie a school record and set some personal bests at WAR VI hosted by Spokane Falls Community College.
Andy Phillips set the school standard in the men's 800 meters, finishing second in 1:52.07, breaking the previous mark of 1:52.31 set by Jon Neill in 1996. Brent Felngale's third-place time tied Neill's record.
"I think the highlight for the men was the 800 meters. Phillips broke the record of one of our legendary runners and Felnagle set a 4-second PR which is amazing in a two-lap race," head coach Pat Tyson said. "Plus, they did it with one of our better runners who has run 1:52- plus in Joe LaMontagne who is out with an injury."
The men got a somewhat surprising victory from freshman Danny Lunder in the 1500 meters, winning in 4:01.30.
"Lunder won the prize, literally won the prize because he won a pie. He was the top runner, the top gun in all the 1500 meter runners. There were about 12 runners seeded ahead of him and he ended up being number one today. He had a great stretch drive to dominate his heat, the top heat of the day," Tyson said.
A tradition at the "WAR" meets put on by SFCC is all individual winners get a pie.
On the women's side, Lindsey Drake walked off with a pie after winning the 1500 meters in a sluggish 4:35.26 because of the wind.
"Lindsey in the 1500 running 4:35 not quite wire-to-wire, but right up there at the front was a good effort," assistant coach Patty Ley said. "She got tucked in a little bit at the beginning, but in tough conditions she felt the effort was much better than when she ran 4:30 a couple of weeks ago, but the time wasn't there today. Everybody said it was a hard race to run."
Ley was perhaps most happy for Krista Beyer who finished second in the 5000 meters in 17:50.02 to shave 51 seconds off her career best of 18:41.18 set in the season opener this year at the Dusty Lane Open.
"Krista had a big breakthrough. She ran 17:50 and we've known she's capable of running there. She's probably even a little bit better than that but she's been struggling with her confidence," Ley said. "She was in Florence studying last spring and missed the track season so she's kind of re-discovering her track legs."
Two Zags competed in their inaugural events Saturday. Tyson pulled Alec Temple off redshirt status and entered him in his first counting steeplechase - he'd run it while still in redshirt status - where he finished third in 10:04.69. On the women's side, Addi Johnson ran her first career 5K in 18:58.95 to finish 13th.
"Alec had a nice third-place finish in the steeplechase. You weren't going to go out and knock the socks off regional marks today, but you're going to learn how to compete and we did a really great job of that," Tyson said.
Ley was pleased with Johnson's inaugural 5K effort.
"To break 19 (minutes) was impressive," Ley said.
Alison Fraher had a 7-second PR of 18:23.55 in the 5K, shattering her 18:29.51 set this year at the Dusty Open.
Gonzaga dominated the men's 5K, claiming the top four spots and six of the top seven.
Ned Fischer won in 14:51.59 and was followed across the line by Tate Kelly (14:54.64), Nick Roche (14:57.09) in his career debut in the event and Patrick Richie (15:01.92) for a PR. Chris Boyle was sixth in 15:14.45 and Braeden Van Deynze seventh in a career-best 5:20.77.
"I love those guys. There were six feeding off each other for two thirds of the race. We don't worry too much about times, but were focused on good placing and if we could sweep it. We had the top four and six of the top seven," Tyson said.
Freshman Taylor Cherry ran her inaugural 10,000 meters Friday night as the 10K was staged in twilight. She finished fifth in 38:24.38.
"Taylor loved it, had a great time and loved the event," Ley said. "She ran very, very steady, an excellent, excellent effort for a freshman. She's excited to do it again and see how much more she can take it (her time) down. She and Amelia (Evans) are going to be a pretty solid crew with that 10K over the next three or four years."
The WAR VI meet is 16 teams - eight from the state of Washington and eight from a combination of Oregon, Idaho and Montana. The eight Washington schools are scored against the other eight Northwest schools.
Washington came out on top, the women defeating the Northwest 406.10-352.90 while the Washington men prevailed 478.17-300.83.
Gonzaga's next competition will be at the Oregon Relays Friday and Saturday.
