Lancers Secure Four Podium Finishes in WAC Opener
5/9/2019 8:23:00 PM | Men's Track, Women's Track, Cross Country & Track
RESULTS
OREM, Utah – California Baptist University wasted no time in producing its first two All-Western Athletic Conference finishers, while adding two other podium finishes in the 10,000-meter race on the first day of the conference meet Thursday at Utah Valley.
Simon Bedard overcame tough competition to come out on top and cement himself as CBU's first ever WAC track champion on the men's side. Anett Somogyi battled high altitude and a frantic pace to take third place and become the first All-WAC track finisher on the women's side.
The Lancers return to competition Friday with men's and women's 800 meter preliminaries and the women's steeplechase. Live video coverage is provided on ESPN+, with the WAC Digital Network streaming, as well, for international viewers. Live results are also available throughout the weekend by HY-TEK.
"Simon ran -- by far -- the best race I have ever seen him run this year," Coach Adam Tribble said. "He ran smart and with a lot of grit and heart. He exhibited a lot of pace and tenacity."
Bedard crossed the line in 31 minutes, 7.18 seconds to beat out Kansas City's Quinlan Moll for the title by 2.48 seconds. Moll led for the majority of the race, as the 10K got off to a very quick start, but Bedard held back and kept plenty in the tank to beat out Moll over the final two laps for the commanding victory.
"The leaders got carried away, the pace was way too fast too early," Tribble said. "Simon really listened and was patient to get back up there. He did a good job of letting up and slowly squeezing his way back in it. I told him there was no way those guys could keep up that pace."
McMarshall Hartzenberg and Dennis Messmer both tallied points for the Lancers as well, finishing sixth and eighth, respectively. Hartzenberg earned himself a spot on the podium with a time of 32:28.86, while Messmer finished in 33:06.47 in his collegiate 10,000-meter debut. Zlatko Kozuhar (12th, 34:10.57), Hector Peralta (13th, 34:14.40) and Koby Ghadery (15th, 37:34.44) also competed in the 10K.
"I was proud of McMarshall and Dennis, they both showed a lot of heart and ran good races today," Tribble said.
Despite not fielding a full team, CBU holds the fifth spot out of seven in the WAC team standings, with the 14 points accumulated by Bedard, Hartzenberg and Messmer today.
In the women's edition of the 10,000 meter, Somogyi and Anna Mate finished back-to-back to take third and fourth, respectively.
"Obviously Anett wanted to win, but it was really a tough race today. It was really a death march from the gun," Tribble said. "We are at about 4,700 feet, which is just enough altitude to bite you over the second half of the race. I am really proud of Anna, that was a very good run for her."
Somogyi finished in 36:45.47 seconds to narrowly edge Mate who crossed .38 seconds later (36:45.85). Utah Valley's Hannah Branch enjoyed a big home-track advantage, with her familiarity with the altitude, to win the race handily in 36:23.71. UTRGV's Dorcas Koech managed to take the runner-up spot in 36:39.83.
Mate and Somogyi combined for 11 points to put the Lancer women in fifth place, as well, in the seven-team standings.
OREM, Utah – California Baptist University wasted no time in producing its first two All-Western Athletic Conference finishers, while adding two other podium finishes in the 10,000-meter race on the first day of the conference meet Thursday at Utah Valley.
Simon Bedard overcame tough competition to come out on top and cement himself as CBU's first ever WAC track champion on the men's side. Anett Somogyi battled high altitude and a frantic pace to take third place and become the first All-WAC track finisher on the women's side.
The Lancers return to competition Friday with men's and women's 800 meter preliminaries and the women's steeplechase. Live video coverage is provided on ESPN+, with the WAC Digital Network streaming, as well, for international viewers. Live results are also available throughout the weekend by HY-TEK.
"Simon ran -- by far -- the best race I have ever seen him run this year," Coach Adam Tribble said. "He ran smart and with a lot of grit and heart. He exhibited a lot of pace and tenacity."
Congratulations once again to Simon Bedard on winning the @WACsports 10K, and becoming the first track champion in the WAC in program history❗️
— CBU XC & Track (@CBUXCTF) May 10, 2019
#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/ghSnNgp2US
Bedard crossed the line in 31 minutes, 7.18 seconds to beat out Kansas City's Quinlan Moll for the title by 2.48 seconds. Moll led for the majority of the race, as the 10K got off to a very quick start, but Bedard held back and kept plenty in the tank to beat out Moll over the final two laps for the commanding victory.
"The leaders got carried away, the pace was way too fast too early," Tribble said. "Simon really listened and was patient to get back up there. He did a good job of letting up and slowly squeezing his way back in it. I told him there was no way those guys could keep up that pace."
📢📢 And here's our first-ever @WACsports track champion 📢📢
— CBU XC & Track (@CBUXCTF) May 10, 2019
Simon Bedard wins the 10,000-meter with a great late push and strong finish to separate himself from the entire field. Here's a look at how it all finished!#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/65Io0K75Vn
McMarshall Hartzenberg and Dennis Messmer both tallied points for the Lancers as well, finishing sixth and eighth, respectively. Hartzenberg earned himself a spot on the podium with a time of 32:28.86, while Messmer finished in 33:06.47 in his collegiate 10,000-meter debut. Zlatko Kozuhar (12th, 34:10.57), Hector Peralta (13th, 34:14.40) and Koby Ghadery (15th, 37:34.44) also competed in the 10K.
"I was proud of McMarshall and Dennis, they both showed a lot of heart and ran good races today," Tribble said.
Despite not fielding a full team, CBU holds the fifth spot out of seven in the WAC team standings, with the 14 points accumulated by Bedard, Hartzenberg and Messmer today.
In the women's edition of the 10,000 meter, Somogyi and Anna Mate finished back-to-back to take third and fourth, respectively.
We have our first top-three finish in the @WACsports' track season❗️ Anett Somogyi takes third place in the 10,000 meter, CBU's first event of the week, while Anna Mate takes fourth place right behind Somogyi.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/jEGCFrUQoG
— CBU XC & Track (@CBUXCTF) May 10, 2019
"Obviously Anett wanted to win, but it was really a tough race today. It was really a death march from the gun," Tribble said. "We are at about 4,700 feet, which is just enough altitude to bite you over the second half of the race. I am really proud of Anna, that was a very good run for her."
Somogyi finished in 36:45.47 seconds to narrowly edge Mate who crossed .38 seconds later (36:45.85). Utah Valley's Hannah Branch enjoyed a big home-track advantage, with her familiarity with the altitude, to win the race handily in 36:23.71. UTRGV's Dorcas Koech managed to take the runner-up spot in 36:39.83.
Mate and Somogyi combined for 11 points to put the Lancer women in fifth place, as well, in the seven-team standings.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Track
/ Men's Track
/ Men's Track
/ Women's Track
/ Men's Track
/ Men's Track
/ Women's Track
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