LOS ANGELES - The University of California, Merced outdoor track teams completed competition at Oxy Invite on Saturday in the final meet before the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships.
Jalen Morales highlighted seven Bobcat men's competitors, while Irene Martinez represented the women's squad in the 5000m.
Morales ran the fastest 800m time in program history with a time of 1:53.26. He finished seventh in the field. Cole Rommelfanger had a time of 1:55.74.
UC Merced had three student-athletes in the 1500m with Jonathan Chavez leading the Bobcats in 3:53.98. Sharvin Manjrekar finished in 3:54.86, while Joshua Riley recorded a time of 4:04.43
Naseem Hassaan placed fifth in the 200m field in 21.99 seconds and before that dash he hit 50.47 in the 400m. Martel fields dashed 11.26 in the 100m and 22.17 in the 200m, the latter being an eighth place finish.
Derrick Pickrel ran 10:10.27 in the 3000m steeplechase.
Martinez improved the second fastest 5000m time in program history to 18:45.40.
Looking ahead, the qualifying Bobcats will travel to Marion, Ind., for the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships May 21-23.