Results

WALNUT, Calif.— The Cal State San Marcos track and field teams squared away against some of the best collegiate and professional athletes in the country Thursday and Friday at the Mt. Sac Invitational, with six NAIA "A" standard performances and a few Cougars posting season best marks.

Kate Bouvatte recorded a personal best in the 5000m, running 17:04.96 and recording the second fastest time in the NAIA this season. Bouvatte now ranks second in both the 5,000m and 10,000m distances.
 
The women's 4x400m topped its season best in the event by nearly half a second, running 3:52.70 and holding ground as the seventh fastest team in the NAIA this year.

Meanwhile, Heidi Swanson would have broke the CSUSM school record in the 1500m— if she hadn't already broken the record back in March. The senior ran the second fastest time of her career and in school history, recording a time of 4:35.60, less than two seconds off her personal best of 4:33.86 that ranks fifth in the NAIA.

Brittany Hollie and Amber Rosario ran 14.60 and 14.74 in the 100m hurdles, respectively. Both marks easily exceeded the NAIA "A" standard, but both athletes had already previously qualified for the NAIA National Championships earlier in the season. The duo are ranked eighth and 13th in the nation currently.

On the men's side, Maurice Strickland also crushed the NAIA "A" standard, running 14.46. His time of 14.30 from earlier in the year still stands as the No. 5 mark in the NAIA.

Steven Ing, who currently ranks ninth in the NAIA in the 5,000m, ran 14:40.33-- just a few seconds off his career best.

Western Nelson hit the "B" standard in the 10,000m Thursday evening, running 31:26.37 in his first time running the event this year. With his previous credentials in cross country and on the track, Western will likely be selected to compete in the event at nationals. Nelson was named the Cal State San Marcos Male Student Athlete of the Year at the CSUSM Awards and Hall of Fame Celebration Thursday evening after winning his fourth NAIA All-American award in cross country this fall.

The Cougars will have a few athletes compete at the Soka Invitational Saturday in Aliso Viejo, and the entire team will be back in action together again Saturday April 26 at the UCSD Triton Invitational.