Track Competes in San Francisco

“Last Chance Meet” Challenges Bronco Runners

Claire McLoughlinTHE SANTA CLARAMay 14, 2015

[dropcap]M[/dropcap]en’s and Women’s Track competed in the West Coast Conference Meet hosted by the University of  San Francisco last weekend.

The competition is called the “WCC Last Chance Meet” because it’s the last chance to make a qualifying time for the NCAA Preliminary Rounds hosted in Austin, Texas on May 28 through May 30.

Freshman Graysee Murphy took first in the Women’s 3000 meter Steeplechase; seniors Amia Nash and Kelly Ryan, junior Camille Dyer and freshmen Hannah Wood and Marisa Rudolph represented the Broncos in the Women’s 1500 meter; Nash and Wood toed the line in the Women’s 800 meter race alongside their teammates senior Meg Webber, senior Hannah Peterson and freshman Karen Mac.

Freshman Greer Chrisman participated in the 400 meter Hurdles. Sophomore Kaitlyn Kuehn, junior Elsa Valenzuela and senior Audrey Hiatt rounded out the women’s squad and ran in the 5000 meter race.

On the men’s side, freshman Andrew Melendez, sophomores Joey Berriatua and Matt Burke competed in the Men’s 1500 meter; Burke, senior Andrew Gaddis and junior Nicholas Mantovani held it down in the Men’s 800 meter race; junior Ryan Greenough, senior Toni Ferrari, freshman Will Burschinger and senior Peter Stephens went to battle in the Men’s 5000 meter.

Melendez said he hopes his success both this weekend and previous weekends has earned him an extension on his freshman season.

“Freshman running seasons are about getting in the hurt box and learning how to take pain at different distances and speeds than you did in high school. I have so far adapted pretty well,” Melendez said.

“I learned a lot about dedication and perseverance,” Murphy, who has had a record-breaking freshman season, said. “It takes a lot of mental power to be engaged and focused for so long and it definitely takes a toll but if you pull through, it’s worth it.” 

Though the season is finished for most of the track squad, several runners, including Murphy and Melendez, will compete in the Portland Twilight meet, which will be held in Portland, Oregon on  May 17.

Contact Claire McLoughlin at camcloughlin@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.