Zags In Duane Hartman Invitational Friday, Saturday
4/27/2012 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
SPOKANE, Wash. - Fresh off some outstanding performances in the Oregon Relays last week, Gonzaga University returns to the track Friday and Saturday at the Duane Hartman Invitational at Spokane Falls Community College.
The featured event is the 5000 meters Friday night with the two men's heats and two women's heats, with just handful of Bulldogs competing Saturday. The women's "B" 5000 meters begins at 7 p.m., the men's "B" heat is at 7:30 p.m. followed by the women's "A" heat at 7:50 and the men's "A" heat at 8:15 p.m.
Bulldog head coach Pat Tyson said his charges are looking forward to the 5000 meters.
"It's an opportunity to run a twilight setting. Whatever it is, there's something special about running twilight, you run faster," Tyson said.
Maggie Jones will be the top female entered in the race for the Zags, who have 13 runners competing in the two heats.
Emily Thomas will not run distance this week, according to Tyson.
"Emily will do a speed workout the next day," Tyson said of her 1500 meters race Saturday. "It's a smart move on Patty's (assistant coach Patty Ley) part because she's coming off a school record one week earlier. Mix it up a little bit, a little spice of life."
The Zag men will have 22 competitors in the 5000 meters, with Robert Walgren, Tate Kelly, Andrew Walker and Nate Gesell among the field.
"We'll have Robert Walgren and about 14 Zags out of the 31 in the field," Tyson said of the "A" heat. "This is the fastest field in Duane Hartman history for depth. Maybe they've had a few top guns, but this is the deepest the event has been. Washington State has an unattached Kenyan freshman named Gilbert Kiplagat who's a 14-flat guy. Walgren will lead us and Kelly, Walker and Gessel are all under 15 minutes, the most in the history of Gonzaga. Can we knock the door and shoot a bunch of guys under 14:40 I hope we get some guys knocking on the door in the 14:20's."
Catherine Theobald's status is unknown, although she's tentatively entered in the 800 meters.
"She's had two school records in the last two weeks. She's got a little bit of a foot strain, nothing super bad, but ultimately you want to be ready for the West Coast Invitational in a couple of weeks. She could be a late scratch," Tyson said.
Tyson said Chris Boyle and Lindsey Drake, both sidelined with injuries, are progressing.
"Boyle is shut down. He's pain free now, but he's real rusty," Tyson said of his elite runner who has been injured all spring. "With him coming back next year maybe we have to adjust things a little bit, maybe the volume has to be a little less because we want him in the line-up and he's valuable. That's not to say he won't get in a couple of unattached, low profile situations. We don't want to line him up against guys that are dialed in right now and hurt his confidence."
Drake, who has been sidelined with a femur injury, is on the mend.
"Lindsey is one day closer to total recovery. I know Patty has her on a great plan. If we can get her jogging in June and fully training in July so we can get her rolling in cross, those are our goals right now. Every day is another day toward getting pain free. She doesn't need crutches, so we're progressing. It's just one of those injuries that take time," Tyson said.
Following the Duane Hartman, the Bulldogs will be gearing for the West Coast Invitational May 12 in Salem, Ore., co-hosted by Willamette University and the University of Portland.
