Helena Valdez ran the third-fastest 10,000 meters in program history and the Yotes' 4X100 meter relay team continued to lower its record best time with a 46.24 clocking on Saturday at the Beach Invitational hosted by CSU Long Beach.
Valdez finished eighth in the 10,000-meter run in 39:20.04. Her time trails only that of record-holder Evelyn De La Luz (36:47.;65 in 2015) and Kaylie Balvaneda (38:33.01 in 2019.
The relay quartet of
Mahlaya Salter,
Hailey Hunt,
Sariyah Copeland and
Alexis White crossed the finish line in 46.24 to finish seventh overall against a field of mostly Division 1 schools. Their previous record was 46.40 set at UC San Diego on April 8.
Payton McCartney-Pernell posted her fastest time in the 100 hurdles (15.19) and her personal best in the long jump at 17 feet, 4.25 inches. Her hurdles time moves her into the No. 3 spot behind No. 2
Kyndahl Carter (14.78) and No. 1 Jordie Mumford (14.01 in 2019). Her long jump effort moves her into the No. 4 spot on the all-time performance list.
Hunt, who became the first Yotes runner to break the 12 second mark in the 100 meters on April 8 at 11.99, lowered that record to 11.94 at Long Beach. She finished 19
th, and Copeland, her teammate, was 20
th, timed in 11.95. Hunt came back in the 200 meters to finish eighth in 24.51, just off her best time of 24.37 set on April 8. Copeland was ninth in 24.60.
Caty Gaynor improved her best time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing ninth in 12:20.67 but remains No. 8 on the all-time performance list for CSUSB.
Journie Alexander ran her fastest 100 meters of the season, 12.21, good for 32
nd place and then long jumped 17 feet, 8.25 inches for 24
th place in that event, well off her program leading 18-foot, 5.25-inch leap set on April 8 at UCSD.
Alexis Wallace ran 4:51.48 in the 1500 meters, good for No. 10 spot on the all-time performance list. Na'Kel Pennix-Webb ran the 400 meters in 60 seconds flat.
Kai Marroquin improved her season best in the 800 to 2:22.91 in a 24
th place finish.
Up Next
The Yotes will travel to UC Riverside for the Chris Rinne Twilight Invitational on April 21, the team's final outing before the CCAA Championships on May 4-6 at Cal State Marcos.
