SPOKANE, Wash. — Gonzaga Men's and Women's Track & Field wrapped up its first indoor meet of 2023 at The Podium Saturday as part of the Spokane Indoor Challenge, highlighted by distance event wins from Wil Smith, Kristen Garcia and Tommy O'Neil.
Running his first collegiate mile, Tommy O'Neil took first place with a 4:24.83 time, followed by fellow first-timer Charlie Martinez (fifth, 4:26.22) to open things up for the Zags.
Kristen Garcia (5:01.11) and Anna Grabowski (5:01.54) went 1-2 in the women's mile, followed by five other Zags in the Top 10 — Kate Donaldson (sixth, 5:12.66), Jorun Downing (seventh, 5:12.74) and Alyssa Bienfang (ninth, 5:15.11). Downing's time was a personal best in her first collegiate mile. Grabowski ran a negative split in the final 800m, closing out in 2:27 after running the first 800m in 2:34.
Wil Smith and Yacine Guermali led the way in a dominant Zags showing in the 3000m, with Smith running the fifth-fastest indoor 3000m in program history (8:06.60) with a new personal best en route to a first-place finish and Guermali (8:12.41) just behind in second. Aidan Baughan (third, 8:26.64), Jackson Lyne (fourth, 8:27.83), Bryce Cerkowniak (seventh, 8:34.59) and Cooper Laird (eighth, 8:36.85) made it six Zags in the event's Top 10. Seven different GU runners posted personal bests in the 3000m — Smith, Baughan, Mackie, Talens, Thorsett, Kissell and Alfonso.
The Zags will return to action next weekend at the Lauren McCluskey Memorial Open on Jan. 20-21, hosted by University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. Check GoZags.com and follow @ZagRunning on IG and Twitter for live results, meet coverage and more.
Women's 60m (Qualifying)
30. Alexis Knight - 8.44s
32. Grace Dalton - 8.69s
Women's 200m
33. Ellie Armbruster - 26.67s
58. Alexis Knight - 28.39s
63. Grace Dalton - 29.33s
64. Taylor Biondi - 29.84
Women's 400m
11. Ellie Armbruster - 58.46
34. Taylor Biondi - 1:04.83
Women's 800m
12. Karina Smith - 2:26.99
13. Emma Larson - 2:27.44
17. Sophia Atin - 2:37.97
Men's Mile
1. Tommy O'Neil - 4:24.83
5. Charlie Martinez - 4:26.22
Women's Mile
1. Kristen Garcia - 5:01.11
2. Anna Grabowski - 5:01.54
6. Kate Donaldson - 5:12.66
7. Jorun Downing - 5:12.74
9. Alyssa Bienfang - 5:15.11
13. Brittney Hansen - 5:17.71
14. Makenna Edwards - 5:17.77
27. Ava Knap - 5:33.54
30. Elizabeth Brands - 5:38.08
Women's 3000m
14. Jasmine Nguyen - 11:11.75
Men's 3000m
1. Wil Smith - 8:06.60
2. Yacine Guermali - 8:12.41
3. Aidan Baughan - 8:26.64
4. Jackson Lyne - 8:27.83
7. Bryce Cerkowniak - 8:34.59
8. Cooper Laird - 8:36.85
12. Jeremiah Mackie - 8:39.02
13. Ansel Tucker - 8:39.15
15. Paul Talens - 8:40.22
16. Nicky DiMartino - 8:41.63
17. Carp Mukai - 8:42.82
19. Will Thorsett - 8:43.06
20. Mason Kissell - 8:44.13
23. Caleb Richardson - 8:51.70
24. Luke Alfonso - 8:51.56
37. Michael Lewis - 9:08.45
50. James Powers - 9:34.64
