California Baptist University
WAC Championships
A Record-Breaking Steeplechase by Karinauskiate Highlights Day Two from Nacogdoches
5/12/2023 9:22:00 PM | Cross Country & Track
Nacogdoches--- After a solid day one, the California Baptist track team delivered an even better day two at the WAC Championships. Three of the five Lancer competitors earned All-WAC honors, including a record-setting performance in the women's steeplechase.
Mia Cabrera got the party started for CBU by qualifying for the 800M finals. Cabrera placed first in her heat with a time of 2:12.03 and had the fourth-best overall time out of 31 runners. Her time was two seconds off her personal best and her second qualifier of the weekend. Cabrera will compete in both the 800 and 1500 races on Saturday.
In the men's steeplechase, Giedrius Valincius and Massimiliano Berti competed in the event for the first time this season in a loaded field. Valincius placed third and earned an All-WAC First Team nod. Valincius's time of 8:58.68 was a new personal best by nearly nine seconds and was the seventh fastest time in program history.
The women's steeplechase provided some of the best performances of the weekend for CBU. Greta Karinauskaite came in as the defending WAC Champion in the event and defended her crown in a dramatic fashion. Karinauskaite set the program record, meet record, 2023 NCAA record, and secured a top-20 best time in NCAA history with a time of 9:35.55. Her impressive time was also the second-fastest time by a Lithuanian-born runner. Karinauskaite shattered her previous best time by 11 seconds and finished 44 seconds quicker than any other runners in the event.
Emilia Mikszuta came in fourth in the steeplechase with a time of 10:35.86, marking the third straight season she has earned an All-WAC Second Team nod.
The Lancers will compete in several final events on Saturday afternoon as they look to finish off an already impressive weekend in Nacogdoches.
Players Mentioned
