California Baptist University
NCAA Division I Championships
CBU Track and Field Wraps Historical Season with a Silver Medal and top-20 Finish
6/11/2023 12:00:00 PM | Cross Country & Track
AUSTIN--- The outdoor track and field season came to an incredible finish for California Baptist University as they brought home a silver medal and a top-20 finish. Greta Karinauskaite crossed the finish line second in the 3000M steeplechase to bring home the prestigious silver medal and secure eight team points for CBU in their inaugural trip to Nationals in Austin.
The Lancers finished 35th on the women's side out of 124 teams, tying them with N.C. State at eight points. CBU was also just one of two Western Athletic Conference teams to score points in Austin, joining Utah Valley. With only two athletes competing, the top-40 placement was an incredible accomplishment that was not lost on Head Coach Adam Tribble.
"This was a year of many firsts, and both Greta and Yasna competed with a great deal of passion and determination this week, and I really think that sums up the way our teams have competed all year."
Karinauskaite's silver medal performance in the steeple was the culmination of an incredible season that saw her etch her name into the NCAA and program record books. Greta set the 2023 NCAA steeple record at the D1 West Regionals with a time of 9:26.88, which was also the meet record and the fastest time by a Lithuanian-born athlete. She also was the WAC champion in the steeplechase and currently holds the six fastest times in the steeple in program history.
🥈𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗨𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗥-𝗨𝗣🥈
— CBU XC & Track (@CBUXCTF) June 11, 2023
Greta Karinauskaite breaks the tape in 9:30.85 to become the first @CBULancers Division I national medalist!#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/2xm3sQ0xpA
Karinauskaite's time of 9:30.85 is the fourth-fastest time ever at Nationals and her second-fastest personal time. Greta led the race through 2400 meters before a late push by Notre Dame's Olivia Markezich in the final 600 meters. Greta is now the first Lancer athlete to be named an NCAA D-1 All-American and bring home a silver medal.
❗️Greta etches her name into Lancer legend with a silver medal finish at the first-ever visit to the DI @NCAATrackField National Championships for CBU❗️
— CBU XC & Track (@CBUXCTF) June 11, 2023
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ULTIMATE COMPETITOR! 🥈🔥
⁰#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/BLufNIAfJ4
Yasna Petrova was the later race of the final evening in the women's 5K, where she put together an impressive performance and wrapped an incredible cross and outdoor season. Petrova started strong in the race, staying with the lead pack through the initial seven laps. Petrova ultimately slid back to the second group of runners and crossed the line in 20th place at 16:16.09. The time was Petrova's fourth fastest time of her career, and she put her name in the record books as the second Lancer ever to cross the finish line at Nationals.
Yasna goes 16:16.09 and becomes the second Lancer ever to cross the finish line at Nationals. ⭐️🏁#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/LjnBBkkBfX
— CBU XC & Track (@CBUXCTF) June 11, 2023
Petrova ends the season as the highest finish at the Cross Country Nationals and one of two athletes to advance to the Track Nationals. Petrova set the program record in the 10K at the Stanford Invitational and recorded the second-fastest time in the 5K at the West Regionals. Petrova was one of a handful of Lancer's to be a First-Team All-WAC selection in both the cross-country and track seasons.
Coach Tribble believes his athlete's hard work paid off on the highest level and is excited about the program's future.
"The work ethic and the overall determination and commitment of both the men's and women's teams have shown this entire year and have been amazing to watch. We are so very grateful for all the support to make this possible, and I am excited to see what is to come!"
Players Mentioned
