California Baptist University
WAC Championships
The Lancers Shift Focus to Postseason Beginning With the WAC Outdoor Championships
5/6/2024 11:44:00 AM | Cross Country & Track
RIVERSIDE--- The Western Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships are set to commence in Orem, Utah, this week as the California Baptist University track team will look to claim multiple Individual Champions and All-WAC honors.
At last year's Outdoor Championships, the Lancers claimed three individual champions and 14 All-WAC finishers. Valentin Soca and Greta Karinauskaite are returning to defend their crowns in the 1,500M and 3000M Steeplechase, respectively. Karinauskaite set the WAC Championship record in the Steeplechase at last year's meet, clocking in at 9:35.55 and setting the program record at the time that she would ultimately break at the West Regionals.
Karinauskaite and Yasna Petrova made program history a season ago after becoming the first two athletes to qualify for Nationals. They will both seek to earn their second trip in the second year the program is eligible. Petrova finished second at last year's Women's 5K, clocking in at a time of 16:25.45, and would go on to earn a spot at National by qualifying in the 10K.
The Lancers will have a few new faces this time around to compete for hardware in Orem, including Carlota Rodes and Lamiae Mamouni, who have been solid for the Lancers this season. Rodes has set new personal bests in both the 5K and 10K this season and has collected two top 5 finishes in four races. At the Stanford Invitational, Rodes set her top 10K time at 33:16.70 and clocked in at 16:21.45 to earn her a new best 5K time at the Steve Scott Invitational. Mamouni, in her first outdoor season with the Lancers, has posted four top 10 finishes, including two 1st place finishes at the Steve Scott Invitational and RCC Invitational, respectively.
Utah Valley will host the Outdoor Championships, which will run from May 9-11 and will be streamed on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
