Bruin Distance gets final tune-up at USD Tune-Up

VERMILLION, S.D. -- The Bellevue University distance track teams traveled to Vermillion, S.D. this weekend for their final tune-up before next week's NSAA Outdoor Track Championships, where they competed in the appropriately titled USD Tune-Up hosted by the University of South Dakota. Improved weather conditions and a high level of competition across all NCAA divisions led to some season-best efforts.

On Friday evening, Richard Marcoux finished with a strong kick to win his section of the men's 1,500-meter run, crossing the line in 4:01.44, just off his NSAA no. 1 clocking recorded a week ago. He would end up tenth overall in the 32-runner field. Robbie Siford recorded his second significant personal best in as many weeks as he slashed six more seconds and finished in 4:23.07. Alejandro Corona Martinez ran 4:44.28 as the final Bruin competitor.

For the women, Alicia Rivera Camargo and Ashley Guatemala fell short of their season bests with times of 5:34.72 and 5:45.06, respectively.

At 5,000 meters, Jose Lara Flores made a strong mid-race move and turned in his season best with a finish of 15:33.01 to place fifth in the fourteen-runner field.

On Saturday afternoon, three Bruin men contested the seeded 800-meter run and all came away with significant lifetime or season bests. Leading the charge for the Bruins in the 29-man field was Ronald Kipyegon, who placed eighth with a season best 1:52.40. Behind him at 1:54.54 was Richard Marcoux, taking two seconds from his personal best, and Luis Casallas Vega, who, like Marcoux, reduced his life best by two seconds to 1:55.51.

With their regular season concluded, the Bruins will look to the final North Star Athletic Association Outdoor Track Championship to be held next Thursday and Friday in Dickinson, N.D.