Bruins back on track at Sioux City Relays

SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- After a restful weekend away from competition, the Bruins track squad was back in action Friday and Saturday for the 61st running of the Sioux City Relays held at Elwood Olsen Stadium on the campus of Morningside University. Bruin athletes recorded seven podium (top-five) finishes over the two days of competition.

Grace Steinmetz highlighted those podium finishes with two meet championships, first in Friday's 5,000-meter run and then winning the 1500 meters on Saturday. She was named the College Women's MVP for her performances. Steinmetz met the NAIA "B" standard in the 5,000 running 17:16.65, placing her at No. 7 in the NAIA. Lydia Cherotich set a personal best of 21:35.55 in the 5K.

A historic first occurred when Bentlee Kollbaum became the first Bruin to compete in a throwing event and made more history when she came away with the victory in the women's javelin. Kollbaum is a member of the Bruin volleyball squad and was a top-ranked thrower during her high school days in South Dakota. Her mark of 35.14 meters currently ranks no. 74 in the NAIA.

Friday's events centered on the shorter distances as a beautiful day for track and field greeted the athletes. Terry Kalonji (12.53) and Emily Usher (13.88) got things started in the 100 meters. At 200 meters, Avan Salas broke his own school record with a 22.65 clocking. Salas came back to take down the 400-meter record later that afternoon, running 50.31, a time that ranks sixth in the Frontier. Justin Miller made his Bruin debut with a 54.72 clocking. Emily Usher ran a personal best of 1:06.40 in the women's race.

The Bruin women had a good showing at 800 meters with Maggie Boley running to No. 2 on the Bruin all-time list at 2:22.10, also No. 5 in the Frontier. Wren Hofacket was close behind in 2:23.39 while senior Alicia Rivera Camargo ran a lifetime best of 2:28.87. Ashley Guatemala-Ortiz crossed the finish in 2:53.18.

Ronald Kipyegon led the men at 800 meters with his twelfth-place finish, running 1:54.45. Luis Casallas Vega moved to No. 9 in the Frontier at 1:57.60. Robbie Siford (2:01.77), Trey Larson (2:02.26), Cody Fikar (2:05.91), and Alejandro Corona Martinez (2:16.69) also represented the Bruins.

Saturday's conditions were cool and damp, and the day began with Griffin Kipchumba Kisoryo's debut in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Kisoryo ran to an 11:04.43 finish, No. 8 in the Frontier.

The 1500-meter run produced several strong results, including Steinmetz's 4:45.59 win. Maggie Boley ran a lifetime best of 4:53.57, No. 8 in the Frontier. Wren Hofacket and Alicia Rivera Camargo both produced lifetime bests, running 4:57.87 and 5:02.69, respectively. Lydia Cherotich crossed in 5:53.46. The men were led by Ronald Kipyegon, who ran a personal best 4:07.49, placing him fourth overall. Robbie Siford ran a personal best 4:21.13, and Alejandro Corona Martinez ran 4:50.47.
 
The Bruin men finished with three podium finishes in the 5,000 meters. Jose Lara Flores (15:22.39) was second, David Felipe Mejia (15:46.02) was third, and Jack Brown (15:57.73) finished fifth.

The final event was the 4x400-meter relay, where the Bruin women's squad of Usher, Boley, Hofacket, and Steinmetz ran to a school record of 4:28.53. The men's team of Salas, Kipyegon, Siford, and Larson ran 3:27.20, the No. 4 time in the Frontier.

Next up for the Bruins is the Nebraska-Kearney Loper Invitational on Saturday, April 18.