Saturday, the Seattle University track and field team finished a long weekend of competition in California.
Ending their three-day schedule, the Redhawks competed at the Long Beach State Invitational. Many Redhawks once again took top-place finishes.
And, for the second day in a row, Katie Fleming broke her school record in the 400 meter hurdles.
After setting a new outdoor school record in the event on Friday at the Bryan Clay Invitational with a time of 64.16, Fleming came out Saturday and quickly re-wrote the record book with a new time of 63.67. The time gave her a third-place finish in her heat.
“Katie had two really great days,” assistant coach Chad Pharis said. “The new school record came on a day she was working on changing how she runs the 400 meter hurdles. It proves that she is quick to make changes, and we are working in a good direction.”
Fleming also took second-place in her flight in the triple jump, going a distance of 11.04 meters (36-2.75”).
Also for the second day in a row, Mandie Maddux cleared her outdoor school record height in the high jump at 1.65 meters (5’-5”), giving her a fifth-place finish in her heat.
She even had a few really good attempts at 5’-7”, according to her coach.
“That consistency will play a huge role come later in the season,” Pharis said.
Abby Wachter, running the 200 meter dash for the first time, also impressed her coach with a time of 25.99.
“Abby ran a fantastic 200,” Pharis said. “It was the first time she has really run one, and she put her all into it.”
Shaddye Melu finished in some of the top spots in his events, as well.
In the high jump, Melu finished in fifth place with a height of 2.05 meters (6’-8.75”).
Melu finished in 11th place out of a huge field of 89 in the 400 meter dash with a time of 47.85.
“Shaddye had to do a lot of work for a season’s best from Lane 1, but ran a strong race to do so,” Pharis said. “He is set up well to be ready for the next couple of meets.”
Next up, the Redhawks travel to the Spike Arlt Invitational in Ellensburg, Wash. to compete on April 23.