Skip To Main Content

Gonzaga University Athletics

Wil Smith sub 4 minute mile WSU open
Keenan Gray

Track and Field

Wil Smith Runs First Sub-Four Minute Mile in Program History at WSU Open

Garcia and Mestler win Mile and 3,000m; Five Zags record All-Time Top 10 times

SPOKANE, Wash. — Wil Smith became the first Gonzaga runner to run a sub-four minute mile en route to a historic event win to lead a resurgent showing on Day Two of the Washington State Open & Combined Events Meet at The Podium on Saturday, with five Zags recording all-time Top 10 times and three individual event wins.

Smith won the men's mile with a blistering 3:59.36 finish that ranks as both the fastest in program history as well as a Podium Facility record, toppling Willie Milam's record set in 2015. It's also the only mile time in the Top 10 set outside of Seattle, Wash., and ranks No. 48 among the fastest in Division I.

Behind him, Ansel Tucker (13th, 4:13.85), Carp Mukai (16th, 4:16.18), Will Thorsett (17th, 4:16.39) and Mason Kissell (19th, 4:17.05) all cracked the Top 20.

In the women's mile, Kristen Garcia (4:48.49) made it a Zags sweep in the mile with her third individual event win of the indoor season, the third-fastest indoor mile in program history. Anna Grabowski (4:53.71) followed her with a sixth-place finish that moved her up to No. 4 on the all-time Top 10. Grabowski, a true freshman, already cracked the all-time Top 10 in the 800m at the Lauren McCluskey Memorial Open in Moscow, Idaho.

They were followed by Alicia Anderson (seventh, 4:54.00), Kate Donaldson (19th, 5:05.23) and Ireland Robertson (20th, 5:05.98) to make it five GU runners in the event's Top 20.

Ellie Armbruster improved on her program record in the 400m with a new personal best of 57.70 seconds, the second time this indoor season that she's put down a personal best in the event to solidify her grip on the record she set as a true freshman.

Caramia Mestler took home GU's third event win of the day with a 9:37.69 finish to lead the women's 3,000m, ahead of Rosina Machu (fourth, 9:45.44), Makenna Edwards (12th, 10:14.15) and Ava Knap (25th, 10:33.51). Machu's new personal best, an improvement of nearly eight seconds, sits as the ninth-fastest in program history.

Jaxon Mackie led the GU men's contingent in the 3,000m with a heat win and 8:33.10 finish to place eighth, followed by Jacob Alfonso (11th, 8:38.94), Caleb Richardson (14th, 8:46.20), Charlie Martinez (15th, 8:48.06), Quentin Rickey (16th, 8:48.18), Michael Lewis (17th, 8:49.05) and Luke Alfonso (20th, 8:51.25).

 


 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Alicia Anderson

Alicia Anderson

Senior
Ellie Armbruster

Ellie Armbruster

Sophomore
Kate Donaldson

Kate Donaldson

Sophomore
Makenna Edwards

Makenna Edwards

Senior
Kristen Garcia

Kristen Garcia

Graduate Student
Michael Lewis

Michael Lewis

Junior
Rosina Machu

Rosina Machu

Sophomore
Jaxon Mackie

Jaxon Mackie

Redshirt Junior
Carp Mukai

Carp Mukai

Sophomore
Quentin Rickey

Quentin Rickey

Junior
Ireland Robertson

Ireland Robertson

Senior
Wil Smith

Wil Smith

Junior

Players Mentioned

Alicia Anderson

Alicia Anderson

Senior
Ellie Armbruster

Ellie Armbruster

Sophomore
Kate Donaldson

Kate Donaldson

Sophomore
Makenna Edwards

Makenna Edwards

Senior
Kristen Garcia

Kristen Garcia

Graduate Student
Michael Lewis

Michael Lewis

Junior
Rosina Machu

Rosina Machu

Sophomore
Jaxon Mackie

Jaxon Mackie

Redshirt Junior
Carp Mukai

Carp Mukai

Sophomore
Quentin Rickey

Quentin Rickey

Junior
Ireland Robertson

Ireland Robertson

Senior
Wil Smith

Wil Smith

Junior