LA VERNE, Calif. — The University of La Verne men's and women's track and field teams officially opened the 2015 outdoor season against Biola, Cal State San Marcos and Palomar at Ortmayer Stadium on Saturday. Only La Verne fielded a men's team.
In perhaps the most exciting race of the day, La Verne's Andrea Ramirez (10 minutes, 49.08 seconds) used a late surge to beat Palomar's Jessica Steinhoff by less than half a second in the 3000 meter run after trailing for most of the race.
Angelina Arreola, Taylor Bernhard, Emily Bieker and Angelyn Caldwell combined to edge Biola in the 4x100 meter relay with a time of 50.41.
Caldwell went 1:14.72 in the 400 hurdles and came in second in the high jump with a leap of 1.50 meters.
Bernhard, a pole vault specialist, cleared 3.04 meters in her signature event.
Tiahna Gillon claimed the women's 60 meter dash with a time of 7.94 seconds and Kimmy Kabluyen clocked a 1:40.04 to win the 600 meter run.
Christiana Coughlin (32.43 meters), Arreola (31.69m) and Mele Halalilo went 1-2-3 in the women's javelin.
Halalilo, who also plays on La Verne's volleyball team, easily won the shot put with a throw of 13.01m.
James Francis, who exhausted his outdoor eligibility but is trying to qualify for the indoor national championship, got some reps in the long jump and the high jump. Francis leaped a 6.34m in the long jump and had a clearance of 1.90m in the long jump.
La Verne's throwers return to action next Saturday, Feb. 14, at Whittier Throws Meet. On Feb. 16, select indoor athletes will travel to Run for the Dream Invitational in Fresno for a final chance to qualify for the 2015 NCAA Indoor National Championships.
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