LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Bellevue University distance track squads, preparing for the upcoming North Star Athletic Association Championships, competed in one final tune-up meet at Saturday's Prairie Wolf Invitational hosted by Nebraska Wesleyan University. High winds that exceeded 30 mph at times slowed times but the Bruins turned in many competitive finishes.
Highlighting the day was Collin Kotz's victory in the day's opening event, the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase. Kotz was the early leader and led throughout the race, followed closely by a Nebraska Wesleyan athlete. With 100 meters to go, Kotz had to hold off his challenger and did so for a narrow 0.12-second win. Kotz's time was 9:50.07, just off his season best of 9:47.
The day's highest finish for the women came from Hannah Perkins who posted a runner-up finish in the women's 5,000 meters, running 20:45.60. Two Bruin men also fought the wind for the 12-1/2 lap 5,000-meter race and ran outstanding races for the conditions with Collin Kotz crossing the line in 17:05.85 followed by Kaleb Wooten running 17:24.37.
In the women's 1500-meter run, Alicia Rivera Camargo placed tenth in the field of 36 competitors running 5:18.20.
Rivera Camargo came back later in the day to challenge the wind and the competition in the 800-meter run and she recorded a 2:33.24 clocking. Caroline Feig joined her in the 800 and crossed in 2:47.18, an excellent result just one second from her season best in the difficult conditions. On the men's side in the 800, Aaron Newton finished strong to pass several competitors down the homestretch and recorded a time of 2:06.19.
Head Coach Craig Christians: "It's frustrating for the athletes to try and compete in a hurricane but my hat is off to everyone on our team for rising above the conditions and competing hard. Everyone dug deep for the finish of their races today and we can't ask for more than that. They've got some time goals and now we'll have to wait for conference and see if we can get some good weather there. I think that we're going to be competitive in a number of races there and challenge for some all-conference (top three) finishes."
Today's meet concluded the invitational portion of the meet schedule and all that remains is the NSAA Championships in Dickinson, N.D. on May 11-12.
