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Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

Oxy Carnival

Men's Track & Field Brian Kortz

Men Start Inaugural Campaign, Women Also Compete at Oxy Distance Carnival to Open Outdoor Track Season

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – It was an exciting day this weekend for the Fort Lewis College outdoor track teams as the men's program laced it up for the first time as an NCAA sanctioned program and competed at the Oxy Distance Carnival. The women also competed for the first time this season.

"Today was the first NCAA sanctioned ever men's track team and our young squad represented us well," Head Coach Joshua Coon said.

In the men's 800-meter, Tyler Gibson and Hunter Byram both ran in the event for the Skyhawks with Gibson posting a strong time of 1:59.88 to place 26th. Byram added a time of 2:04.32 to come in 49th.

In the men's 1,500-meter, Byram led the way for FLC as he crossed with a time of 4:21.18 to come in 59th. Cody Speece wasn't far behind as he came in with a close time of 4:23.35 to place 63rd. Gibson added a time of 4:30.75 to claim 78th, while Andrew Vanaman came in 85th with a time of 4:34.85.

The Skyhawks then loaded up in the men's 5,000-meter with eight competing in the event. Steven Nez was the first one in for FLC with a time of 15:38.80 to place 112th. Bismarck Kipkilach crossed in 152nd with a time of 15:57.88. Speece and Andrew Rome finished just a few seconds apart with Speece in 195th with a time of 16:23.59 and Rome in 201st with a time of 16:29.83. Trevor Wilson was the next one in for the Skyhawks with a time of 16:47.27 to place 211st. Brandon Sheard pushed across for a time of 16:56.48 to place 219th. Derek MacFarlane added a time of 17:38.47 to place 231st. Wacey Begay rounded out the Skyhawks in the 5,000-meter as he placed 236th with a time of 18:33.42.

"Steven had the race we always knew you could have in the 5K, Cody had a personal best, Brandon is getting back healthy and ran great, and Tyler brought passion and energy. I'm excited about these guys and the future of the squad," Coon said.

On the women's side, Krista Benze competed in the 400-meter run and posted a solid time of 1:06.23 to come in 34th.

In the 800-meter run, Saylor Sargent paced three Skyhawks in the event as she posted a top-20 finish with a time of 2:23.50 to come in 18th. Sarah Chacon was right behind in 23rd with a time of 2:25.54. Benze added another strong time in the 800 as she crossed in 32nd with a time of 2:34.39.

Four Skyhawks ran in the 1,500-meter run with Angel Curley putting together a great race and placed 38th with a time of 5:07.60. Dorothy Elder was right behind in 45th with a time of 5:11.90. Chacon added a time of 5:15.39 to place 56th and Sargent added a time of 5:21.67 to come in 71st.

"Angel had a breakout race with a 5k personal best. She's got such a bright future here. Rhylyn was strong as always. Sarah stepped up her winter training and it showed with strong showings in the 800 (pr) and 1500. Dorothy also brought a strong showing in the 5k," Coon said.

Six Skyhawks then jumped into the 5,000-meter run and Rhylyn Jones opened her spring season strong grabbing a time of 18:14.82 to place 47th. Curley and Elder then finished just a few seconds apart with Curley in 102nd with a time of 19:27.04 and Elder in 105th with a time of 19:31.14. Jessica Ramirez clocked a time of 20:11.55 to place 130th, Karla DeLaCruz added a 134th finish with a time of 20:22.92 and Rose Chemeli rounded out the group with a time of 20:55.80 to place 143rd.

"Overall, with the winter we've had, I'm mostly pleased with the showing. We have some work to do, though we've got a great group ready to get after it," Coon added.

FLC will return to the track this coming weekend when they will travel to Pueblo to compete in the CSU-Pueblo Early Bird.
 
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Players Mentioned

Sarah Chacon

Sarah Chacon

MD
5' 3"
Junior
Rose Chemeli

Rose Chemeli

D
5' 7"
Sophomore
Saylor Sargent

Saylor Sargent

MD/D
5' 5"
Sophomore
Bismarck Kipkilach

Bismarck Kipkilach

Senior
Steven Nez

Steven Nez

Sophomore
Andrew Rome

Andrew Rome

Junior
Brandon Sheard

Brandon Sheard

Redshirt Sophomore
Cody Speece

Cody Speece

Sophomore
Andrew Vanaman

Andrew Vanaman

Freshman
Wacey Begay

Wacey Begay

Freshman

Players Mentioned

Sarah Chacon

Sarah Chacon

5' 3"
Junior
MD
Rose Chemeli

Rose Chemeli

5' 7"
Sophomore
D
Saylor Sargent

Saylor Sargent

5' 5"
Sophomore
MD/D
Bismarck Kipkilach

Bismarck Kipkilach

Senior
Steven Nez

Steven Nez

Sophomore
Andrew Rome

Andrew Rome

Junior
Brandon Sheard

Brandon Sheard

Redshirt Sophomore
Cody Speece

Cody Speece

Sophomore
Andrew Vanaman

Andrew Vanaman

Freshman
Wacey Begay

Wacey Begay

Freshman