Gonzaga University
Buc Scoring Invitational
Zags Pick Up Wins in Outdoor Opener
3/18/2018 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Gonzaga's women's and men's track and field programs started their outdoor schedules with a few first place finishes at the annual Buc Scoring Invitational Saturday.
Running in cold conditions at Whitworth's Boppell Track, Sumner Goodwin, Kellen Manley and Brandon Pollard came in first in their respective events. Overall, the Zags dominated the distance events in the season opener.
Gonzaga swept the top six spots of the men's 5,000 meters led by Goodwin. The senior crossed the line at 14:54.07, edging out teammate Bennett Gagnon's time of 14:54.32. Peter Hogan (14:56.43), Scott Kopczynski (14:57.12) and Phillip Fishburn (14:57.36) were third, fourth and fifth.
"Sumner, Bennett, Peter, Scott, Phillip and Stefan Bradley (14:57.75, 6th) ran a nice controlled 3:00 paced per kilometer race in taking the top six spots! It was really fun to watch," Director of GU Track and Field Pat Tyson said. "They dealt with the 38-degree temperature like champions! They all looked smooth and in control especially coming off tough winter training conditions and closing off spring break, as most of our athletes trained on their own this week."
Manley paced a top-three sweep in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase. He began his junior season with a 9:11.12 first place finish. Alex Heffelfinger (9:14.00) and Sammy Truax (9:19.04) were close behind in second and third. Heffelfinger slid to No. 8 all-time in program history with his finish.
"All three of them looked really good over the barriers and water jump, considering the lack of doing barrier work because of the bad weather conditions," Tyson said. "We're really excited for our stable of steeplechasers!"
In the men's 1,500 meters, Pollard's time of 3:55.19 beat out the rest of the 16-runner field. He finished ahead of a pair of runners from Lewis-Clark State, Thomas Weakland (3:57.52) and Guillaume Corneloup (3:59.45).
"We let Brandon run the race pretty much controlling the tempo throughout," Tyson said. "He was in cruise control and took the easy win, closing the last 300 in 44.21."
Jordan Thurston placed second in the women's 5,000 meters. She opened her senior season with a time of 17:37.03. Eastern Washington's Kari Hamilton won the event at 17:09.21.
"The day opened with the 5k and Jordan leading the way with a rust busting race after working back from a hamstring issue over the winter," GU women's Head Coach Patty Ley said. "Monica Ripple (18:57.66) scored a PR, and Jenna Rogers (19.02.04) ran solidly in her first 5k on the track and a rough winter fighting injuries."
Claren Fraher and Sarah Hawley were fourth and fifth in the women's 800 meters. Fraher's time of 2:25.16 was just ahead of Hawley's 2:27.95. In the women's 1,500 meters, Aimee Piercy crossed the line at 4:48.03 in fourth place. Brianna Vasquez was fifth in the women's 400 meters at 1:03.41.
"Claren and Sarah worked well together in the 800," Ley said. "The 1,500 had an excellent early season field that pulled Aimee down to a very nice opener, after not racing on the track since high school. She was followed by first-timer Claire Gillett (4:57.58, 7th), who ended with a big best at the distance."
Felecia Bazie opened her collegiate career with the fourth-fastest 100-meter (13.52) time in women's program history, and the ninth-fastest 200-meter (28.05) time.
The Zags return to the Pine Bowl at Whitworth for the annual Sam Adams Invite on Thursday and Friday.
