Track team juggles two meets in one weekend

Despite competing against a league of Division I opponents, the Oklahoma Christian University men and women’s track teams broke several personal records in the Texas State Bobcat Invitational in San Marcos and the Texas Relays in Austin on Friday and Saturday.

Junior Maci Rich recorded a personal record in the 1,500-meter run on Friday at the Bobcat Invitational. Falling just 1.04 seconds shy of the Oklahoma Christian school record, Rich ran a 4:46.47, placing her 10th out of 39 runners.

“It felt good to post another career-best,” Rich said. “I’m happy with how I’m running at this point in the season, and I’m blessed to be healthy and getting to compete.”

Sophomore Austin Kruzich also recorded a personal best at the meet, finishing 31st out of 56 runners in the 100-meter with a time of 11.05 seconds.

“It’s been a long road back after having to sit out all last year due to an injury, so coming back and setting a personal record is really rewarding,” Kruzich said. “I’m still not where I want to be time-wise, but the rest of the team and I are making progress towards our goals everyday.”

Fellow sophomore Sawyer Pehkonen ran in both meets on Friday. At the Texas Relays he competed with teammates Joshua Jones, Ryan Lutterloh and Landon Huslig in the 4×400-meter relay and finished 19th out of 34 teams with a time of 3:17.33. Pehkonen also competed in the 400-meter run at the Bobcat Invitational, finishing in 48.99 seconds and earning 13th out of 46 runners.

Emory Lobley, Jones, Lutterloh and Kyle Broaddrick also competed in the distance medley relay at the Texas Relays with a time of 10:17.33.

During the final day of the Bobcat Invitational, freshman Leisa VanVooren finished 28th out of 48 runners in the 800-meter run, with a time of 2:25.21. Broaddrick and Pehkonen each posted personal bests in the same meet on Saturday, in the 800- and 200-meter run, respectively.

Broaddrick finished 42nd out of 49 runners with a time of 1:59.72, while Pehkonen posted a time of 22.37 seconds in the 200-meter, placing him 45th.

Huslig finished 15th out of 21 runners in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.28 seconds.

Both the Eagle and Lady Eagle track teams will compete in the Friends University Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Wichita, Kansas.

Statistics provided by the Oklahoma Christian University Sports Information office