Automatic Finish

Friday, April 1

San Francisco, Calif.

All Day

California Baptist University

SF State Distance Carnival

Photo by: Sammi Wellman

4/1/2016 10:27:00 PM | Men's Track, Cross Country & Track

By: Sammi Sheppard, Director of Sports Information

SAN FRANCISCO — In two of the toughest fields of competition it may face until the NCAA Division II Championships, California Baptist University men's track put in a solid day's work at two different meets.

Valentin Robert picked up the first automatic qualifying NCAA Division II mark of the season, securing his spot at the national championship in Florida at the end of May. Last year, Robert took 10^th overall in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of nine minutes, 5.24 seconds. Friday, at the Stanford Invitational, Robert crossed the finish line in 8:53.75, taking third in his heat.

While the junior may already be in the No. 2 spot on the all-time fastest times list for CBU, it bettered his previous record by almost six seconds.

Abdel El-Hajjami, who holds the record in the steeple, clocked in at 9:10.66. It gives him a provisional qualifying mark for the NCAA Division II Championship, despite battling a hip injury this week.

At the SF State Distance Carnival, Robert and El-Hajjami's teammates kept up the day of qualifying marks. Duncan Perillat also grabbed a conditional mark in the steeple with a 9:16.54 time. It puts him sixth all-time, which isn't bad for his first time running the event.

"That's a great time for his first steeple," said Coach Ben Gall. "We feel like he will improve a lot still."

Reigning PacWest Runner of the Week Anthony Lozano kept up his steady stride in two events on the day. He started with a 3:53.98 — just two seconds off a provisional mark — in the 1500-meter and followed with a 1:55.59 time in the 800-meter — three seconds off the conditional mark.

"Lozano had a solid day doubling in the 1500m and 800m," said Gall. "It was nice to see him win his heat."

Anthony Avila was right on Lozano's footsteps in the 800m, taking second in the heat with a time of 1:55.84. Lucas Graham wasn't far behind, crossing the finish line in 1:56.95 to join his teammates at the PacWest Championships at the end of April.

"Avila ran a great 800m in his first of the season," said Gall.

Dennis Messmer also secured a spot in the conference championship with a time of 3:54.24 in the 1500m event.

"Dennis ran great to finish second in his heat," said Gall. "It was a great personal record in his first 1500m of the season."

The Lancers head to Claremont, Calif., next weekend, hoping to make even further progress on the road to the NCAA Division II Championships at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational.