Peterson, Denfeld Pace OSU at Knight Twilight
MONMOUTH,
“Overall, it was a great all-around night for the entire team,”
Also in the 1,500, Sylvia Veal ran a personal best of 4:38.82. In the second section of the event, Hayley Oveson nearly won the race with a time of 4:45.15 that was just off her personal best.
“I was very proud of those four,” Sullivan said of Peterson, Denfeld, Veal and Oveson. “This was the third time in the past four weeks that both Jean-Marie and Lauren have set personal bests in either the 3,000-meter steeplechase or the 1,500 meters, while Sylvia has now run in the 4:38-:39 range four meets in a row, indicating she is ready to bust a big one really soon.
“Hayley is definitely having a great freshman year as she continues to make her comeback from missing her senior track season in high school. Her roommate and freshman teammate, Krista Stangel, struggled a little bit tonight, but you can tell she is a little tired from a long year, but with some extra rest this next coming week, I am sure she will bounce right back and be ready for the Pac 10 meet.”
In the women’s 800, OSU’s Julie Garcia, Holly Thomson and Noelle Harer all ran in the first section. A pedestrian pace over the first 400 meters resulted in a split of 70 seconds, but the group from OSU finished strong, covering the second 400 meters at a faster pace and using a strong kick in the last 100 meters to finish third through fifth in the event with times of 2:14.95, 2:15.46 and 2:16.02, respectively.
“That group showed a lot of courage and savvy,” Sullivan said. ‘It was disappointing to see a couple of elite 800-meter runners in the race decide to sit and kick and not take the pace out, which the collegiate runners - including ours - thought they would, and then have it come down to a mass sprint over the last 150 meters, as it did.
“I am certain all three of them would have set personal bests if the pace had been more honest in the first 400. But as I told each of them after, it may be a blessing leading into the Pac-10 rounds - both the 800 and 1,500 sometimes can turn into a tactical race like this, and now they will be better prepared. Julie Garcia has come a long, long ways in one year. To see her competing the way she is under all conditions, is just awesome for everyone in the program to witness, I could not be happier for her.”
In the women’s 5,000, Rebecca Mishler finished a close second; her time of 18:06.4 gave her a personal best for the third meet in a row. Lorene Young had a personal best for the second straight weekend, finishing fifth in 18:09.8.
“I was very pleased with both Rebecca and Lorene coming back from racing their first-ever 10,000 meters just a week ago, and follow that up by PRing and they both nearly won the race individually,” Sullivan said. “These two, along with Jenny O’ Connor, have really blossomed over the last month and I know are gaining a lot of valuable confidence as they are closing out the season.’
Next up for the Beavers is the Oregon Twilight meet on Saturday in
JOHN KNIGHT TWILIGHT INVITATIONAL
Winners and
WOMEN’S 800 METERS (field of 18) – 1. Emily McMahon,
WOMEN’S 1,500 METERS (field of 33) – 1. Amanda Kamm,
WOMEN’S 5,000 METERS (field of 26) – 1. Marci Klimek, Linfield, 18:05.6; 2. Rebecca Mishler, OSU, 18:06.4; 5. Lorene Young, OSU, 18:>09.8; 9. Megan Hibner, unattached, 18:40.5; 11. Samantha Godfrey, OSU, 18:44.0; 13. Jenny O’Connor, OSU, 18:59.3; 17. Holly Mishler, unattached, 19:24.8.
