Bruins return to track at abbreviated Concordia Invite

Results

SEWARD, Neb. -- The Bruin distance track squad traveled to Seward on Saturday for the abbreviated Concordia Invite. Poor weather conditions reduced the running portion of the meet schedule to just four distance races, but the Bruins took the opportunity to get on the track to race and returned home with positive results. Races were run in temperatures in the forties and a stiff west wind, which were not ideal conditions for fast times.

The 1500-meter race was the first event and featured the only Bruin female entries on the day. Alicia Rivera Camargo ran to a season-best 5:25.54 to place seventh, while Ashley Guatemala recorded a personal best of 5:42.26 for eleventh. On the men's side, Richard Marcoux brought home the sole Bruin victory on the day with a 4:06.98 clocking. Steadily improving, Alejandro Corona Martinez ran the fastest 1500 of his career as he recorded a 4:46.80.

The Bruin men had three finishers in the top half of the field in the 5,000-meter run as Xavier Mallow, Alvin Keter, and Jose Lara Flores finished in second, third, and sixth, respectively. Mallow's time of 15:12.82 was just 0.03 seconds off of Alvin Keter's school record set two weeks ago. Keter turned in a 15:23.61 for third, and a fast closing Lara Flores passed two runners in the home stretch, crossing in 16:00.52

Finally, the men's 800-meter run produced a Bruin runner-up finish as Luis Casallas Vega crossed the line in 2:01.99 to enter the Bruin all-time list at No. 10. Despite the conditions, Robbie Siford was less than a half second from his season opener as he finished in tenth at 2:11.12.

Head Coach Craig Christians: "I thought we ran really well in some tough conditions. Everybody's been working hard, and it was good to get a race under our belts…we had some nice results. Coach Musiel said that we've got a lot of work to do, but I think both of us were encouraged by what we saw today."

The Bruins will travel north to Sioux City next Friday and Saturday as they compete in the Sioux City Relays.