Gonzaga University
Sam Adams Invite
Thurston Wins 5K Title at Sam Adams Invite
3/23/2018 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Gonzaga's Jordan Thurston placed first in the women's 5,000 meters at the Sam Adams Invitational Thursday.
Thurston cruised to the win with a time of 17:23.98 at Whitworth's Boppell Track at the Pine Bowl. Washington State's Melissa Hruska was second at 18:12.42. The Zags' Elena Slavoski crossed the line at 19:01.96 in fifth, while Monica Ripple was sixth at 19:08.37. Erin Boyle (19:49.54) and Jenny Albrecht (19:50.27) were eighth and ninth.
"It was windy and wet," GU women's head coach Patty Ley said. "Northwest track and field at its most typical. There were some good efforts under tough conditions.
"It was a nice win for Jordan. She was just working on a good tempo and staying after it. Elena mixed it up with Dittman and Shaw-King from WSU until the last kilometer. We're seeing really good things from her in workouts and she just had to get used to that new place and good things are going to happen. Monica ran well again this week. While Erin Boyle debuted at this distance and did a really nice job of staying focused throughout."
In the men's 5,000 meters, Hunter Simpson came in sixth place with a time of 15:32.55.
The Zags open the second day of the 13th annual meet in the 1,500 meters at 4:10 p.m.
