SPOKANE, Wash. — Gonzaga Men's and Women's Track opened up their first meet at The Podium, with a total of 24 Top-10 finishes, three individual event wins and a new facility record from Wil Smith in the 5000m.
Ellie Armbruster continued her record-setting ways from last indoor season with a personal best in the 400m (58.08) and ninth-place finish to improve her program record.
Five Zag runners finished in the Top 10 of the women's mile, with Olivia Hobbs (2nd, 5:05.56) leading the way ahead of Anna Lanigan (third, 5:07.11), Alyssa Bienfang (fourth, 5:07.59), Elizabeth Brands (sixth, 5:14.11), and Jorun Downing (eighth, 5:23.57).
Jackson Lyne (4:25.48) and Sean Janecko (4:29.44) went 1-2 in the men's mile with a pair of sub-4:30 finishes, and Smith followed that up with an individual win of his own, shattering The Podium facility record by over 20 seconds with a first-place finish in the 5000m (14:01.31). Smith finished ahead of fellow Top-Five Zag finishers in Riley Moore (second, 14:48.44) and Bryce Cerkowniak (fourth, 15:02.12). Smith's time ranks as the third-fastest in program history behind Yacine Guermali and James Mwaura's record-breaking finishes last weekend in Boston.
Four more Zags cracked the Top 10 in the women's 3000m, with Caramia Mestler (second, 9:34.98) finishing just shy of the program record en route to a second-place finish to lead the pack. Brittney Hansen (fourth, 9:57.46), Makenna Edwards (sixth, 10:12.76) and Emily Phelps (ninth, 10:31.69) rounded out the Top 10, with Hansen finishing just outside of the Top 10 fastest times in program history.
In the last race of the day, a men's 3000m race loaded with GU runners wrapped up with Cooper Laird (8:22.14) leading seven Zags in the event's Top 10, ahead of Nicky DiMartino (second, 8:26.77), Aidan Baughan (third, 8:28.36), Carp Mukai (fourth, 8:42.49), Wil Thorsett (fifth, 8:43.27), Jacob Alfonso (sixth, 8:45.07) and Quentin Rickey (eighth, 9:07.17).
Full Results
Women's 60m Qualifying - Prelims
35. Alexis Knight - 8.34s
Women's 200m
39. Alexis Knight - 27.83s
Women's 400m
9. Ellie Armbruster - 58.08
27. Leighton Joy - 1:02.82
Women's 800m
10. Emma Larson - 2:38.13
11. Taylor Biondi - 2:44.40
Men's 800m
9. Tommy O'Neil - 2:04.89
Men's Mile
1. Jackson Lyne - 4:25.48
2. Sean Janecko - 4:29.44
Women's Mile
2. Olivia Hobbs - 5:05.56
3. Anna Lanigan - 5:07.11
4. Alyssa Bienfang - 5:07.59
6. Elizabeth Brands - 5:14.11
8. Jorun Downing - 5:23.57
12. Karina Smith - 5:35.54
14. Sophia Atin - 5:58.91
Women's 3000m
2. Caramia Mestler - 9:34.98
4. Brittney Hansen - 9:57.46
6. Makenna Edwards - 10:12.76
9. Emily Phelps - 10:31.69
15. Ava Knap - 11:02.20
Men's 3000m
1. Cooper Laird - 8:22.14
2. Nicky DiMartino - 8:26.77
3. Aidan Baughan - 8:28.36
4. Carp Mukai - 8:42.49
5. Will Thorsett - 8:43.27
6. Jacob Alfonso - 8:45.07
8. Quentin Rickey - 9:07.17
11. Mason Kissell - 9:14.05
16. Luke Alfonso - 9:33.33
Men's 5000m
1. Wil Smith - 14:01.31 [Facility Record]
2. Riley Moore - 14:48.44
4. Bryce Cerkowniak - 15:02.12
Up Next
The Zags return from winter break with another meet at The Podium for the WSU-hosted Cougar Classic on Jan. 13. Live Results will be available via GoZags.com — follow @ZagRunning for updates and meet day information.
