Track & Field sets eight personal bests in Azusa, California

The Chadron State track and field teams set a slew of personal best marks at the Bryan Clay Invitational this weekend in Azusa, California, including a school record in the steeplechase set by Alyse Henry, junior of Rock Springs, Wyoming. Henry’s time of 10:56.8 improved the CSC school record by over 9 seconds.
Setting school records California has become common for Eagle distance runners. Nine of the 10 record marks in the running events from the 1500 to the 10,000 have been set at meets in California.
Along with setting a school record Henry also had a career best in the 1500-meter run with a time of 4:46.88. Teammate Madi Watson, freshman of Mitchell completed the race in 4:49.45. Both women now have top ten all-time marks for the Eagles at ninth and tenth respectively.
On the men’s side, the Eagles were led by Isaac Grimes, freshman of Rancho Verde, California. The freshman leaped 48 feet, 8 ¼ inches in the triple jump. The mark is the second-best all-time by an Eagle and moves him into the top spot in the current RMAC standings for 2018. Grimes also qualified for the finals in the long jump with a leap of 24 feet, 3 inches but was unable to compete.
All seven of the Eagle men’s distance runners competing this weekend set personal best marks. The Eagles took advantage of the low altitude and strong competition to make improvements. Levi Avila, senior of Mitchell, ran a personal best 14:58.48 in the 5000-meter run and a season best 4:03.07 in the 1500-meter run. The winner of the 1500-meter run, University of New Mexico’s Josh Kerr, junior of Edinburgh, Scotland, set a new NCAA record at 3:35.01.
The Eagles will be back in action at the RMAC Championships April 26through April 28. After the RMAC championships the Eagles have the opportunity to compete in last chance meets to attempt to qualify for the national championship meet.