Drake, Walgren Claim Section Wins At UW Invitational
1/29/2012 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
SEATTLE, Wash. - Gonzaga University runners Lindsey Drake and Robert Walgren picked up section victories in their respective events at the University of Washington Invitational Saturday.
In the women's 3,000 meter run, Drake turned in a 9:46.32 to win Section 1 in her event debut. She also breaks the school record time of 10:02.36, which was set by Emily Thomas last weekend at the UW Preview. Although Thomas did not set the new school record, she did set a new career-best. She clocked in 9:52.29 to finish behind Drake in the same heat. Drake finished the event 19th overall while Thomas placed 21st.
Bulldogs assistant coach Patty Ley was pleased to see Drake and Thomas break the 10-minute barrier.
"That was awesome. I was hoping they would finish around 9:40 and Emily was just outside of it," Ley said. "But I think they are gaining the confidence where they can do that. Later in the season one or both will hit it again."
In the men's mile run, Walgren turned in a time of 4:12.80 to win Section 1 and place 20th overall. Ley said the race was a close one.
"It was a little crazy. They had three or four different leaders throughout the race. With about 200 meters to go, he just started rolling and when he moved, he moved aggressively," Ley said.
In the men's 3,000 meter run, Andrew Walker ran a 8:37.04 to place eighth in Section 1 and 40th overall. Tate Kelly and Chris Boyle were slated to race the men's 3,000 meter but both of them pulled a hamstring and Ley thought it was best not to have them race.
"It's still pretty early in the season so it's not worth it right now. We'll give them a couple of days to recover," Ley said.
But overall Ley thought it was a good day for the Bulldogs.
"We're really pleased," Ley said. "To come away with wins in two different heats for Gonzaga is a huge plus."
Up next for the Bulldogs is a trip to the University of Idaho campus for the Runners Soul Open next Saturday.
