WHITEWATER, WI — The University of La Verne track and field teams continued their indoor season at the Midwest Elite Invitational hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
"We did well in Whitewater. Solid, consistent performances. I think it was eye-opening for a lot of our athletes to compete at a meet of this caliber and size. I am very proud of their efforts," said track and field head coach Kevin Reid.
Finn McClure led the Leopards by setting a new school indoor record in the mile. McClure posted a time of 4:23.23, shaving off nearly a second from the previous record set by teammate Jared Albaugh. He also posted the second fastest time in school history in the 800m with a time of 1:58.93.
Marissa Hehir added her name to the La Verne top-10 list in two events. She ran the second-fastest time in the mile (5:17.66) and the fifth-fastest time in the 800m (2:30.91).
Also in the distance events, Santiago Herrera ran a personal record in the 5K with a mark of 15:22.25.
Fresh off setting a record in the 60m last time out, Tyler Thomas continued his fast start to the season, finishing at 6.99 in the 60m, missing the finals by just .01 seconds. Russel Maxie missed running a personal record in the 60m by the narrowest of margins. He finished with a time of 7.16, just .01 seconds off his all-time best.
Dawson Bell posted two top-ten times. She ran 8.11 in the 60m and 27.07 in the 200m, ranking third and fourth, respectively, on the La Verne all-time list.
Devin Spreeman finished at 2.93m in the pole vault and just missed attempts at her personal best.
Zachary Reid ran a solid race in the 60m hurdles, with a time of 8.50, missing the finals by just .02 seconds.
In the 4x400 relay, Ivan Estrada, Austin Haines, Tyler Thomas, and Joshua Collier posted the third-fastest time in La Verne history. Their time of 3:27.88 currently ranks fourth on the NCAA DIII West Region list.
The Leopards will switch their focus to outdoors this weekend when they compete at the Pomona-Pitzer All-Comers meet hosted on the Pomona College campus, on Saturday, February 17.
Top Performances
Devin Spreeman - Pole Vault (2.93m)
Jazzlyn Johnson - 60m Hurdles (9.77), 200m (29.57), Long Jump (4.47m)
Braeden Varney - 60m (7.72), 60m Hurdles (9.42)
Russel Maxie - 60m (7.16)
Zachary Reid - 60m Hurdles (8.50)
Gwen Maddox - 5K (19:41.45)
Santiago Herrera - 5K (15:22.25)
Marissa Hehir - Mile (5:17.66), 800m (2:30.9)
Finn McClure - Mile (4:23.23), 800m (1:58.93)
Dawson Bell - 60m (8.11), 200m (27.07)
Tyler Thomas - 60m (6.99)
4x400 (Estrada, Haines, Thomas, Collier) - (3:27.88)
