CBU Makes More History at Ben Brown Invite

Friday, March 11

Fullerton, Calif.

6 PM

California Baptist University

Ben Brown Invitational

Photo by: Rachel Sollazzo

CBU Makes More History at Ben Brown Invite

3/11/2022 10:00:00 PM | Cross Country & Track

Results

By: Andrew Shortall, Director of Athletics Communications

FULLERTON – After making history in week one of the track season, California Baptist University was after more in its second meet, Cal State Fullerton's Ben Brown Invite on Friday.

The Lancers logged 10 new top-10 times in program history, but weren't done there. CBU saw nine of its runners run the 10,000-meter under 30 minutes, which is believed to be an NCAA record for one team in one race.

"Tonight was a special night all around for CBU track," Coach Adam Tribble said. "IT started off with a number of huge lifetime bests for the women in the 5K, topped off by what I'm told is an NCAA record for the most guys ever to run under 30 minutes in the same race. It was a special, special night. The team has truly done an incredible job preparing for this, I'm so proud for them and for CBU."

🚨 𝙍𝙀𝘾𝙊𝙍𝘿 𝘼𝙇𝙀𝙍𝙏 🚨

9️⃣ Lancers run the 10K in under 30 minutes at the Ben Brown Invite for what's believed to be an NCAA record for one team in one event. CBU placed a total of 12 runners in the top 15 in the race. #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/p3oDMp2X9H
— CBU XC & Track (@CBUXCTF) March 12, 2022

CBU ended the historic night with 12 runners placing in the top-15 of the men's 10K. Seven Lancers set new top-10 individual times in the race. To top it all off, Said Mechaal, an unattached Lancer won the race in 29 minutes, 21.07 seconds.

The Lancers swept second through ninth place in the race after that, with Florian Le Pallec (29:22.07), Giedrius Valincius (29:26.57), Ivo Balabanov (29:31.03), Arturs Medveds (29:32.23), Matias Reynaga (29:32.92), Roman Zozulia (29:33.75), Dylan Van Der Hock (29:41.23) and Massimiliano Berti (29:42.87) filling in those spots in order. Rikus Van Niekerk gave CBU its ninth runner to break 30 minutes, as he took 11^th in 29:50.89.

Zlatko Kozuhar (12^th, 30:01.90); Luis Chavez (14^th, 30:24.85) and Tyler Tickner (15^th, 30:48.00) also placed top-15 in the race for CBU.

On the women's side, Greta Karinauskaite and Anneken Viljoen went one-two in the 5K. Karinauskaite won in 16:16.58 and Viljoen finished runner-up in 16:26.71, which are the second and third-best times in program history.

🥇🥈

Greta Karinauskaite and Anneken Viljoen go 1️⃣-2️⃣ in the 5K at the Ben Brown Invite. Karinauskaite wins in 16:16.58 and Viljoen takes second in 16:26.71, which are the second and third best times in program history.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/sVvLSGGtFQ
— CBU XC & Track (@CBUXCTF) March 12, 2022

Carlota Rodes took eighth in 16:41.09 and Emilia Mikszuta placed 10^th with a time of 16:50.54, which are the sixth and eighth-best times in CBU's individual top-10 history.

Karin Gosek (13^th, 17:07.12); Cynthia Martin (17^th, 17:15.08); Paige Haynes (22^nd, 17:32.52) and Mia Cabrera (23^rd, 17:34.76); Sylvia De La Pena (25^th, 17:36.39) and Nadia Martinez (19:50.62) all finished the race for CBU, as well.

Liudmila Rudzko took eighth place in the women's 1500 meter with a time of 4:36.53.