April 1, 2016
RESULTS LINK
LOS ANGELES - The Nevada Wolf Pack track & field team's distance runners took on a gauntlet of long runs to start the UCLA Legends of Track & Field meet in Los Angeles on Friday.
The meet got started Friday afternoon with the Legends Distance Carnival. The Pack had several strong performances, including victories in the 1500 and 5000 meter races. The record book also looks a little different after the 3000 meter steeplechase, where Sophomore McKenna Evans' performance earned her the eighth spot on Nevada's all-time list.
"We had a really good night on the track," said distance coach Kirk Elias. "People competed really well and we had several personal records. McKenna had a big break through. All those are signs of people competing well and figuring out this game."
Sidney Root started the distance carnival off strong for the Wolf Pack with a victory in the open 1500 meter, just her second ever attempt at that distance. Root hung tight in the top 10 for the entire race. Heading into the final 250 meters, with coach Elias pumping his fists and screaming from the track's fringe, the sophomore started kicking faster, passing one runner after the other until, five runners later, she led the field by several seconds. Fighting off an attack from Stephanie Cortez from Cal State Fullerton, Root powered her way across the finish line at the top with a new personal record time of 4:43.94.
Evans, who competed in the 2000 meter steeplechase at the Aggie Open, took on the 3000 meter version Friday. In what was almost a full 18 seconds personal record, the sophomore used the strong field to push her to a time of 10:52.31, which puts Evans on the school's all-time list in eighth. Emily Myers, who is redshirting the 2015-16 outdoor season and therefor was running attached, ran a time of 10:23, which would have broken the Nevada record by more than five seconds.
"It feels really good to make the list," Evans said. "Especially because I know I can race better. I'm just going to get better from here."
Redshirt freshman Marissa Suan, racing in only her second collegiate race and first ever 5000 meter, snagged her first career victory at the carnival. Breaking away from the Pack along with Gonzaga runner Julie Henling with about 1000 meters to go, Suan looked to be slipping behind Henling. Fluctuating between how close Suan stuck to the Gonzaga runner, she put an end to the question of who would win as they entered the bell lap. Coming around the first turn, Suan flipped the switch, and passed the first place runner, extending her lead as the final 400 meters went by. Suan won the race handily with a time of 17:46.02.
"It got uncomfortable," said the rookie. "But coach always said there's going to be some discomfort in a race, but it's up to me to decide if I want to get past it. I got past it today. It hurt, but it was good. I though, `just go.'"
The vast majority of events on the Pack's schedule will take place on Saturday. Nevada's first events will be the high jump and javelin at noon. Fans can find live results on uclabruins.com, and can follow along with highlights on Twitter with @WolfPackTrack.
