Denfeld Leads Strong Showing at Oregon Relays
EUGENE, Ore. – Senior (Bend, Ore.) had originally broke her own school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase by 13 seconds to lead the Oregon State women’s track team on Friday evening at the Oregon Relays at Hayward Field. Later developments led to the retraction of all times in the race due to a barrier not properly constructed on the track.
“We had a great day. Across the board, I am very pleased,” head coach said. “We had a lot of runners break into our top 10 lists tonight and we had a lot of PR’s.”
Denfeld finished 8th overall and her time of 10:33.78 has put her in position for regional qualifying in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Junior (Eugene, Ore.) earned her way up the school’s all-time top 10 list with her performance in the 1,500-meters at a time of 4:32.78 (9th place in section 2) good enough for 6th all-time. Junior (Aloha, Ore.), possessor of the second fastest 1,500-meters time in school history (4:29.09), was the Beavers’ top finisher in the event, coming in 7th running at 4:32.48.
“Sylvia [Veal] hasn’t raced in a month due to a hip that has been bothering her,” Sullivan said. “So coming out here after that, I was very pleased with her race today. It was her second best 1,500-meters ever.
“Thomson made a big improvement over the season, and Jean-Marie had her best time this year. I was very pleased with that.”
In the 5,000-meters freshman led the Beavers with a 3rd place finish, completing the race in 17:21.95, fast enough for 8th all-time at OSU.
Sophomore ’s (La Grande, Ore) time of 16:55.33 and junior ’s (Klamath Falls, Ore.) time of 17:00.77 would have been good enough for 3rd and 4th best all-time at OSU in the 5,000-meters had they both not been running unattached. Both runners PR’d in the event.
Freshman (Eugene, Ore.), running unattached, took the top spot in the 1,500-meters B-section for a personal best. Had she not been running unattached, her time of 4:35.44 would have been good for 10th all-time at OSU.
“I was very happy with Masterson’s win in her section, which was a PR for her,” Sullivan said. “Hannah [Soza-Hodgkinson], and all PR’d in the 5,000-meters and Lauren [Denfeld] probably ran the best race of her career.”
Also, sophomore (Grants Pass, Ore.) was the Beavers’ top finisher in the 800-meters with an 8th place finish with a solid time of 2:18.00.
“Only a couple women didn’t run quite what they wanted, but overall we had just a plain fantastic day,” Sullivan said.
Beaver track will be back in action on Friday, May 2, at the Pacific Twilight in Forest Grove, Ore.
Log on to osubeavers.com to follow Oregon State track this season.
OREGON STATE RESULTS: 3,000m steeplechase: 8. , 10:33.78. 800m section B: 8. , 2:18.00; 11. , 2:21.43. 1,500m section B: 1. (unattached), 4:35.44. 5,000m section 2: 3. , 17:21.95; 9. Nicole Crawford, 17:33.32; 10. , 17:34.69; 13. , 17:52.19; 14. , 17:52.71; 16. (unattached), 18:03.24; 18. , 18:12.21; 22. , 18:41.95; 25. Jenny O’Connor; 18:54.58; 26. , 18:54.78. 1,500m section 2: 7. , 4:32.48; 9. , 4:32.78; 12. , 4:38.76; DNF . 5,000m section 1: 17. Hayley Oveson (unattached), 16:55.33; 18. (unattached), 17:00.77.
