Lancers Open Track Season With Big Day at Ben Brown Invite

Friday, March 12

Fullerton, Calif.

All Day

California Baptist University

Ben Brown Invitational

Photo by: Matt Schumacher

Lancers Open Track Season With Big Day at Ben Brown Invite

3/12/2021 7:51:00 PM | Cross Country & Track

Results

By: Andrew Shortall, Director of Athletics Communications

FULLERTON – California Baptist University opened its track season at Cal State Fullerton's Ben Brown Invite and got off to a strong start on Friday.

The Lancers got an individual win, four new top-10 times in program history and a host of new personal records. Giedrius Valincius and Anna Mate continued to lead their teams in the 5,000-meter runs on Friday.

"It's always good to run a PR, but it's even better when it happens in the first race of the season," Coach Adam Tribble said. "We had 16 of those tonight. I'm excited for what's to come as we head toward April."

Fresh off winning the individual WAC Cross Country title, Valincius won the 5K race on the men's side with a time of 14 minutes, 10.43 seconds. His time ranks third in CBU's record book and is the fastest a Lancer has run the race since 2002 when Gabriel Hernandez clocked a 14:08.54. Kris Bowditch holds the all-time 5K record at 13:48.75, which was set back in 1999.

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Giedrius Valincius continues his winning ways and takes first place in the 5,000-meter run in CBU's track opener at the Ben Brown Invite. His time of 14:10.43 ranks third in Lancer history.#LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/YVkzYO2vrU
— CBU XC & Track (@CBUXCTF) March 13, 2021

Valincius had more than second cushion between himself and UC Riverside's Arman Irani, who finished runner-up in 14:11.52. CBU's Florian Le Pallec took third place individual in 14:12.80, which ranks fourth in CBU's top-10 record book.

Mate and Emilie Renaud led the way on the women's side. Mate took third place overall in the 5K with a time of 16:49.18. Renaud finished right behind her in fourth place in 16:51.29. Mate's time ranks eighth in CBU history and Renaud's is ninth all-time.

A total of nine runners on the men's side set personal records on Friday. The Lancers swept sixth through 10^th place in the 35-man race on the men's side, thanks to Luis Chavez (sixth, 14:28.07); Zlatko Kozuhar (seventh, 14:30.73); Rikus Van Niekerk (eighth, 14:34.75); Roman Zozulia (ninth, 14:35.01) and Cameron Hylton (10^th, 14:41.74).

On the women's side, seven Lancers had personal records. Freshmen Greta Karinauskaite (sixth, 17:00.64) and Emilia Mikszuta (eighth, 17:14.64) continued their strong performances from the cross country season with top-eight finishes on Friday. CBU also swept 11^th through 15^th place, with Karin Gosek (11^th, 17:31.05); Paige Haynes (12^th, 17:34.04); Rachel Gee (13^th, 17:35.05); Fruzsi Ladanyi (14^th, 17:42.19) and Helen Pacurariu-Nagy (15^th, 17:43.94) filling in those spots.

The Lancers have three weeks off from competition. They will be back in action on Friday, April 2 with a meet at UC Riverside.