Led by junior Tara Chaplin in the 5,000-meters, three University of Arizona track and field athletes ran NCAA qualifying times Saturday at the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif.
Chaplin ran the second-best outdoor 5,000m time of her career, 16:12.53, an NCAA automatic qualifying time, to finish eighth in the race. She was the fourth collegian to cross the line, as well.
Senior Katrin Engelen improved her time in the 3,000m steeplechase, setting a school record in the process. She ran 10:23.47 to finish third in the event that is new this season. Her time is also a strong NCAA provisional qualifying time, just over three seconds off the automatic time.
Sophomore Nicole Gurnicz finished seventh in the steeplechase, running 10:47.75, to improve her time for the third consecutive week in the event.
Freshman Beth Hoge ran 16:49.94 to finish 25th out of 78 runners in the 5,000m. The race was the first 5,000m of Hoge's career, who has been a solid 1,500m runner for the Wildcats.
Junior Steve Smith ran his best time of the year in the men's 3,000m steeplechase, 8:58.29, to finish 12th. Smith's time is a Pacific-10 Conference qualifier and the fastest in the conference this year. It is also the second-best of his career, just off the time of 8:57.20, which he ran last season.
Senior David Lopez ran the fastest 10,000m time since his freshman season, 29:50.60, to finish 46th of 82nd at the meet. In 1998, Lopez ran 29:32.72, but he had not cracked the 30-minute mark since.
Two Wildcat freshmen also had good showings in the men's 5,000m. Mike Howard and Matt McInvale ran 14:37.75 and 14:38.43, respectively, to finish 51st and 52nd out of 126 runners.
Several Arizona throwers competed Saturday at the UC-San Diego Invitational in La Jolla, Calif. Junior Mike Rexroth had a season-best throw of 172-10 (52.68m) in the discus to win the open competition at the meet. His mark is also a Pac-10 qualifier.
Sophomore Jeremy Fulton and freshman Ryan Moore also had significant season-bests in the discus, throwing 168-0 (51.20m) and 165-3 (50.36m), respectively, to finish third and fourth in the event.
The Wildcat distance runners conclude competition Sunday at the Stanford Invitational and then travel to the Texas Relays next weekend.
