CLOVIS, Calif. – Freshmen Leslie Aquino and Julianna Luchsinger set program-records on the women's side, while Naseem Hassaan helped secure a new program-record for the men's 4X400 relay team to cap the University of California, Merced outdoor track teams weekend at West Coast Relays at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Aquino set the 800m program-record in 2:22.31, which was also good for 16th in the field and first in her heat. Earlier in the day, Aquino neared a program-record in the 1500m turning in a personal-best time of 4:54.46.
Luchsinger impressed in her first career 100m hurdles event as she broke the program-record in a time of 17.72. She also ran the 400m hurdles for the first time and recorded a time of 1:11.94.
The 4X400 relay team with Cole Rommelfanger, Derrick Pickrel, Jalen Morales, and Hassaan ran a record time of 3:27.40. The team won its heat and placed ninth overall.
All four of those Bobcats on the 4X400 relay team also recorded other notables throughout the day.
Morales posted the second fastest 800m time in program history clocking 1:54.09. Morales, whose time is good for 20th in the NAIA, won his heat and earned a fifth place finish in the field.
Rommelfanger improved his own fourth fastest 800m time in program history running 1:56.86 and placing 14th.
Hassaan set personal-best times of 10.90 in the 100m dash and 21.99 in the 200m dash, improving on top three times in program history. He placed top 16 in both events, including 12th in the 200m.
Pickrel ran his first 3000m steeplechase of the season, finishing third with a time of 9:59.05.
Jonathan Chavez took fourth in the 1500m in 3:56.07 and 12th in the 800m running 1:56.58.
Joyce Nichet highlighted the women's sprint team winning her heat in the 200m dash in 26.05.
Joshua Riley turned in a strong day with a pair of top ten finishes, including increasing the third fastest 1500m time in program history to 3:58.62. He placed tenth in the field. He ended his day with a ninth place result in a time 15:34.0 in the 5000m.
Other notables include a tenth place finish from Jorge Mandujano in the 5000m in 15:44.04 and a 20th place finish from Martel Fields in the 100m with a time of 10.96.
Kasia Holland (800m/2:27.40), Kevin Pedroza (800m/2:01.26), Alberto Guevara (1500m/4:14.59), and Alex Surrena-Thompson (100m/14.19) registered a personal-best.
Up next, UC Merced outdoor track will continue its season at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational on Saturday, April 5 in Berkeley, Calif.
