April 23, 2016
FRIDAY RESULTS
SATURDAY RESULTS
BERKELEY, Calif. - The Nevada Wolf Pack track & field team put together several strong performances over two days at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational Friday and Saturday in Berkeley, Calif.
Nevada took four victories as part of their weekend that saw seven top three finishes. Sophomore Meagan Wood and freshman Lindsey Adams went one-two in the 1500 meter. Junior Fiyin Olusola kept with her strong trend in the season, taking first in the 100m hurdles. Senior Alyzza Zunino logged a personal best in her javelin victory, while Brandi French took first in the shot put.
Thing got off to an immediately good start in the 1500 meter. Running together as they did at the Aggie Open earlier this season, sophomore Meagan Wood and freshman Lindsey Adams took on the mid distance race. The two got to the front of the pack right at the start and held their position for the first two laps. As the third lap progressed, two of the other runners who were jockeying for position in the early laps found themselves neck and neck with the Nevada runners. As the group entered the bell lap, Wood and Adams kicked on the burners and soared to the front of the group. With Adams fighting off an attack down the final stretch, Nevada took the top two spots of the race. Wood cross the line in 4:39.15 and Adams in 4:42.36, both season bests.
The hurdles came onto the track after the 1500, and Olusola did what she does best. With a great start, the hurdler got off to a large lead, competing against just herself halfway down the stretch. Crossing the line in 14.02 seconds, Olusola claimed the top spot by almost a full second.
White found herself on Nevada's 200m dash all-time list with her performance on Friday. With good competition ahead of her, the sophomore came across the line in second with a time of 24.41. Now at seventh on the 200m dash list, White holds five spots on the Nevada record book. White also came in second in the 100m dash, followed by teammates senior Kashae Knox and sophomore Alyssa Porter in third and fourth.
In the final race for Nevada on Friday, Marissa Suan built on her UCLA Distance Carnival victory in another strong performance in the 5000m. As the race began to widen, Suan held as close as she could to two other runners in front of her. But, in a move reminiscent of the Distance Carnival, the redshirt freshman kicked it into high gear heading into the final lap, passing both runners with 300 meters to go. As she set her eyes on a third opponent to pass up, things looked unlikely. However, coming into the home stretch, Suan gave it all she had, passing her third runner of the lap. Her official time of 17:40.85 is a five second personal record, and put her in fifth in the event.
To close out Friday, several Nevada athletes hit the javelin runway. Zunino, one of Nevada's top three javelin throws counted in their national top 10 average, claimed victory to put Nevada's win total at three. Her throw of 149 feet and five inches is a season best, improving almost seven feet from her Beach Invitational performance. The average season best of Nevada's top three javelin throwers currently ranks the squad in the top 10 in the nation, and the senior's performance is bound to help the event move even higher.
As the day turned, Brandi French threw a Saturday shot put. Dominant all season, the freshman phenom kept the train rolling with a victory in the event. Her best mark came in at 46 feet and 10.5 inches.
Nevada will take on their biggest challenge of the season with much of the team headed to the Drake Relays this coming week. This weekend's meets will be the final preparation for the team before the Mountain West Championships, held May 12-14.
