Various members of the University of Redlands track & field team competed over the weekend earning solid results at two high-caliber events. First, a trio of Bulldogs impressed at the Claremont Classic Multis Meet on Thursday and Friday, before additional student-athletes gained quality marks at the Occidental Invite on Saturday.
Junior Alison Smith (McKinleyville, CA) and freshman Kara Romani (Sacramento, CA) put together career-best numbers in the Heptathlon during the Claremont Multis. Smith's total of 4,432 points places her 10th in NCAA Division III, while Romani earned 4,154 points to rank 33rd in the country.
Highlighting her success, Smith fired off a career-best time of 14.23 in the 100 Hurdles to place second at the meet. She moved up on the national list to No. 5. She also took second in the Shot Put with a career-best heave of 38' 2 ¾" and finished third in the 200 Meters with the fastest time in her career at 25.98.
Romani's solid outing included four career-best efforts out of six events. She uncorked a time of 16.74 in the 100 Hurdles while also improving upon her previous 800-time to complete the race in 2:31.50. Finally, she recorded the best marks of her career in the Shot Put at 29' 3 ¼" and the Javelin at 78' 1".
Sophomore Afari La-Anyane (Morgan Hill, CA) competed in the Decathlon in Claremont, earning two career-best showings and making his debut in four events. He impressed in the High Jump with a height of 5' 9 ¾" to improve upon his previous personal record. By clearing a height of 11' 9 ¾" in the Pole Vault, he posted another career- best effort. Finally, he ran the 100 Meter Dash (11.53), 400 Meters (50.14), and 1500 Meters (5:10.91) for the first time in his young career. His inaugural full Decathlon was complete with another debut in the Shot Put (30' ¼").
On Saturday, Redlands gained additional career-best times in three different events for the men. Freshman Nick Burchett (Gold River, CA) ran his fastest time of 51.92 in the 400, while sophomore Sean Unger (Carlsbad, CA) improved his 800-time to 1:57.46. Finally, senior Nathan Meier (Riverside, CA) put together a career-best showing of 9:39.43 in the 3000 Steeplechase.
For the women, the Bulldogs saw numerous highlights, including sophomore Kaylee Jorgensen's (Claremont, CA) career-best time of 2:15.66 in the 800 Meters. Senior Lauren Roberts (Portland, OR) posted a season-best time of 18:11.28 in the 5K, while sophomore Vanessa Blanchard (Palmdale, CA) registered the highest individual finish for the Maroon and Gray at the meet by taking third in the High Jump with a mark of 5'5".
The Bulldogs look forward to hosting the Redlands Final Qualifier on Wednesday, May 18, and Thursday, May 19, at Ashel Cunningham Track in Ted Runner Stadium.