Track Slate Features Three Meets, Including Stanford
4/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
SPOKANE, Wash. — There are a few venues in track and field that Pat Tyson holds in rather high regard. Hayward Field, Cobb Track and Angell Field, Hilmer Lodge Stadium — these are the cathedrals of the sport, according to Gonzaga's venerable coach.
A handful of Zags will have the chance to pay their respects to one of these venues when they compete in the Stanford Invitational on Friday at Cobb Track and Angell Field. The competition is just one of three meets that will feature Gonzaga runners this weekend. GU athletes will also compete in the San Francisco State Distance Carnival and the Sam Adams Classic at Whitworth University.
More than 3,300 athletes, including entrants from 114 colleges and universities, will converge in the Bay Area for the 39th edition of the Stanford Invite. This two-day meet, which starts at 9 a.m. each day, will feature athletes from many of the top programs in the country.
"Meets like this are like going to church," said Tyson, GU's program director and men's coach. "It's a chance to mix it up with the jerseys. Every great program is going to be there — and the Zags are going to be there."
The Gonzaga contingent that qualified to compete at Stanford includes Brent Felnagle in the 1,500 meters, Willie Milam in the 5,000 and Nick Roche in the steeplechase. Shelly Davis, running in the 1,500 meters, will represent the GU women.
"You don't want to get caught up in the pageantry of the meet," Gonzaga women's coach Patty Ley said. "You just have to race, stick your nose in it and compete against people and good things are going to happen."
Approximately 30 miles north of Stanford, 19 other Zags will compete in the San Francisco State University Distance Carnival. This is also a two-day meet, but, like the Stanford Invite, GU runners will compete during Friday's session only. Bulldogs will race in the 800, 1,500, 5,000, 10,000 and the steeplechase.
On Saturday, 30 Zags will race at the Sam Adams Classic at Whitworth University. In addition to their usual distance events, GU athletes will also compete in the 100, 200, 400 and the women's 1,600-meter relay. The first events start at 10 a.m. at the Pine Bowl.
"We've got some opportunities that we really just have to jump on this weekend," Ley said. "Everybody really needs to step up and compete."
