SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- Perfect conditions for distance running greeted the Bruin distance track squad at the 56th annual running of the Sioux City Relays on the campus of Morningside University in Sioux City. The cool temperatures and light winds produced some fast times, personal bests, and several new school records.
First on the track was the 5,000 meters where both Lorena Ramirez and Chris Casart lowered existing Bruin bests. Ramirez placed sixth for the women, the Bruins' best placing on the day in a field that included NCAA Division I teams South Dakota, South Dakota State, and Augustana as well as NAIA powerhouse Dordt. Her time of 19:29.37 cut a half minute from her own outdoor school record. Casart followed that with a season-best of 16:32.80 to break Gerardo Najera's standard set in 2019.
In the women's 800 meters, Taylor Caba had a slight lowering of her 800 best running 2:37.08. Dayana and Diana Montano-Salama had season-best efforts in the 800 as they recorded 3:09.57 and 3:23.01 respectively.
The steeplechase saw three Bruin men entered with Edrei Murillo giving the event a try for the first time and running a fine debut of 10:32.84 for seventh place in a field of 17 runners. Cole Wagner ran a season-best 10:49.90 as did Desyebelew Debesh with a time of 11:01.32.
Taylor Caba dropped down in distance with a run in the 400 meters and ran 1:05.48, establishing a new record as the event had not been previously contested.
The day concluded for the Bruins in the 1,500-meter run where Ramirez led off with a 5:13.98 clocking which lowered her personal and Bruin best by almost ten seconds. For the men, Aaron Newton reduced his personal best by running 4:27. Dixon Kiptoo was just off his season-best, recording a mark of 4:51.91.
Coach Craig Christians: "It was great to get some conditions suited for distance running and we came home with some big improvements. With just under four weeks to the conference meet, I like the focus we showed at practice this week and it was reflected in the times we ran today. I know there is more time to cut out there and it's fun to watch the athletes working to make it happen."
The Bruins return to action on Thursday, April 22, when they travel to Lincoln to compete in the Prairie Wolf Invite on the campus of Nebraska Wesleyan University.
