Gonzaga University
San Francisco State Distance Carnival
Zag Steeplechasers Highlight Big Night in the Bay
3/30/2018 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
STANFORD RESULTS | SF STATE RESULTS
STANFORD, Calif. -- Gonzaga's Kellen Manley, Sammy Truax and Alex Heffelfinger all ran top-four 3,000-meter steeplechase times in program history Friday.
Heffelfinger had the fastest time among 82 entries at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival. His time of 8:56.97 was ahead of second-place finisher, Ricardo Estremera of Puerto Rico, who crossed the line at 8:57.70. Heffelfinger nearly broke the 11th annual meet's record, and easily won the third of five sections. Aaron Ahl of Simon Fraser was second in the third section at 9:15.28.
Heffelfinger owned the second-fastest time in program history for two hours. Across the Bay at the Stanford Invitational, Truax placed third in the third section of the 3,000-meter steeplechase at 8:55.95. Minutes later, Manley was third in his section of the event with a time of 8:51.26.
Manley's previous personal best of 8:57.75 qualified him for the 2016 NCAA West Preliminary and was No. 2 all-time at GU. Truax (9:05.13) and Heffelfinger (9:18.95) both set their previous personal records at last season's Portland Twilight.
In her first-ever collegiate attempt at the distance, Jordan Thurston ran the fourth-fastest 10,000-meter time in women's program history. Her time of 35:50.69 was only the fourth sub-36-minute 10K finish all-time at GU.
Mason Villarma (3:53.83) and Brandon Pollard (3:53.89) had solid finishes in the 1,500 meters at Stanford. Pollard was third in his heat.
Peter Hogan and Phillip Fishburn opened the day for the Bulldogs in the men's 10,000 meters at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival. Fishburn came in third in his section at 31:12.27, while Hogan finished with a time of 31:15.95.
Bennett Gagnon's 14:40.07 was the fastest of four Gonzaga 5,000-meter men's times. He placed 28th in a field of 226 runners.
In the women's 5,000 meters, Aimee Piercy had an 18:32.64 finish (101st), while Amanda Kiefer crossed the line at 18:41.42 (112th). Claire Gillett placed 10th in her heat of the 1,500 meters at 5:01.90.
The Zags return to Spokane for the 11th Northwest Scoring Clash April 6-7. The annual meet returns to Spokane Falls Community College.
