Three runners from Fort Lewis College shattered a trio of program records at Colorado Mesa University's Maverick Invite Saturday and Sunday.
Freshman Bean Minor bettered his preestablished record in the 5,000 meters to 14:27.10 – earning first place along the way.
Junior Aaron Busche set a program record in the 1,500 after running a time of 3:50.93 for first place.
Senior Angel Curley led the way with a huge personal best in 5,000 at 17:45.27, shattering the program record by 29 seconds. Junior Brandy Ray was right behind her with a time of 18:05.55 which also broke the previous school record.
Success in the 5k race went beyond just Minor's first-place finish with three additional Fort Lewis runners placing top-five. Junior Ethan Bartlett crossed third in 15:09.91. Freshman Elijah Smith (15:14.26) and sophomore Preston Graul (15:15.56) followed in fourth and fifth, respectively.
“Our 5k group went for it early and worked well together finishing with four of the top five spots,” said head coach Shawn Jakubowski. “It is such a pleasure to see these men work off one another as they do. Bean closed very hard again to win the race lowering his previous school record. Ethan and Eli looked strong and are coming into form at the right time and Preston set a personal record by over 30 seconds."
The 1,500 race saw equally as impressive results, beginning with Busche's first-place program record. Sophomore Brady Burrough finished third in 3:59.31, followed by sophomore Connor Dosmann's 10th-place time of 4:06.67.
“Aaron took down a very tough school record and ran away from the field in the last 150 meters,” Jakubowski said. “He is starting to learn the ins and outs of this race so look for him to continue to make big strides. Brady broke that 4-minute barrier today and kicked hard to finish third. We now have three guys that have run under 3:55 returning next year, so the 1,500 could be a very good event for us in the future."
The coach was also impressed with Curly and Ray’s performances in the women’s 5,000.
“I was speechless after the women's 5k,” he said. “These ladies came in with a goal and all just laid it out with almost all of them left with huge personal bests. It was clear after two miles that Angel and Brandy were going to go well under the school record, but Angel kept putting down the hammer and smashed it by 29 seconds."
Junior Katie Fankhouser took home the 800-meter crown with a time of 2:12.44. Her time, an NCAA provisional time, is the second fastest in program history.
“Katie led from the gun and won her first college track meet in dominant fashion to win by four seconds while hitting an NCAA provisional time. Overall, it was an amazing day for the Skyhawks on both sides," Jakubowski said.
In the 3,000-meter steeplechase senior Carmella Wright placed 3rd in 11:58.50 to lead FLC. Sophomore Peyton Burnside followed in fifth (12:04.31).
In the 1,500, sophomore Sophia Mena (4:56.90) and freshman Marisol Castilleja (5:03.77) represented the Skyhawks with sixth and eighth-place races.
FLC will wrap up its regular-season this weekend at the Don Kirby Invite at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
