California Baptist University
Ben Brown Invite
CBU Dominates the 5K's at the Ben Brown Invite
3/7/2025 10:42:00 PM | Cross Country & Track
FULLERTON, CA--- The California Baptist University track team competed in its second competition of the Outdoor Season on Friday night as they took on the Ben Brown Invite.
The Lancers competed in the AstroAi Distance Classic section of the Invitational, running in both the 1.5K and the 5K at the Titan Track Complex. CBU hit its stride in the 5K's, putting together several impressive performances and coming with the individual champions in the men's and women's sections.
Ceyda Pinar got CBU started in the Women's 1.5K, placing sixth in the four-heat race with a time of 4:35.11. The 5K's is where CBU really hit its stride as the majority of the runners were slated to compete in the loaded field. The men were the first to hit the track in the event, as CBU would send seven runners onto the starting line. The group ran very tactically over the opening laps as they would keep pace with a rather large group for the majority of the run.
Pedro Marin and Daniel Abdala would open up over the final stretch of the race and would go stride for stride with each other as they, along with a Cal State Fullerton runner, sprinted toward the finish line. Marin would overtake Abdala and the CSUF runner by fractions of a second and claim the top spot in the Men's 5K with a time of 13:56.40. Abdala came in right behind him at 13:56.59 while Adam Trefecanty would take sixth place with a time of 14:06.56. Victor Rosas would also finish in the top 15, clocking in at 14:19.21. Marin has taken the top of the podium in both races he has competed in to start the season after winning the Men's 3K at the RCC Invitational to open the season.
The Women's 5K would conclude the evening as CBU would race four in the competitive field. Ava Dyck would be the star of the show as she was in the opener at RCC, where she finished first in the Women's 3K. This time around, Dyck would break her personal record by nearly a minute in a highly entertaining race from start to finish. Dyck kept pace with the group for the opening portion of the competition but would eventually break off into a more intimate group over the final few 100 meters. Dyck ran her fastest split on the final lap as she broke away from the small pack and crossed the finish line nearly ten seconds faster than the rest of the field. Dyck's time of 16:18.74 was a personal best by nearly a minute and continues an impressive true freshman campaign for the Calgary native.
The rest of the women in the field finished in the top 20, with Karolina Bliujute pacing the group with an 11th-place finish and a time of 17:02.76. Nausica Magnani and Anna Lawrukajtis were right behind her with 13th and 17th place finishes, respectively.
NEXT: CBU will have a week off before hitting the track at the Bob Larson Invite hosted by UCLA on Friday, March 21.
Players Mentioned
