The Seattle University track and field team competed at two well-known meets Friday, with some members participating in the Bryan Clay Invitational, hosted by Azuza Pacific University, and other competitors taking part in the Mt. SAC Relays at Hilmer Lodge Stadium.
At the Mt. SAC Relays, Dylan Burnett (Lynnwood, Wash.) continued to improve on his season-best mark in the javelin throw, finishing third in his flight and fifth overall after posting a throw of 66.80 meters (219’ 2”). In the men’s 400 meter dash, Shaddye Melu (Auburn, Wash.) and Austin Thummel-Gravitt (Puyallup, Wash.) finished 1-2 in their heat, with Melu finishing in 48.10 seconds to end up in 26th place overall, ahead of Thummel-Gravitt in 38th place overall with a time of 48.51 seconds.
Sophie Curatilo (Honolulu, Hawaii) finished 12th in her section of the women’s 1500 meter run with a time of 4:37.07, while Collin Overbay (Spokane, Wash.) crossed the finish line 14th in his section of the men’s 1500 meter run with a time of 3:53.28. Thursday evening, Hannah Mittelstaedt (Maple Valley, Wash.) finished ninth in her section of the 3000 meter steeplechase with a mark of 10:45.90.
At the Bryan Clay Invitational, Katie Tougas (Edmonds, Wash.) started things off in the morning for the Redhawks, finishing in a tie for 11th place in the long jump after posting a mark of 5.59 meters (18’ 4.25”) on her final attempt. In the women’s triple jump, Cali Cull (Marysville, Wash.) posted a mark of 10.74 meters (35’ 3”) to finish in 24th place overall.
On the track, Candice de Sauvage (Foster City, Calif.) finished second in her heat and tied for 15th overall in the 400 meter dash with a time of 57.56 seconds, while Mandy Rusch (Redmond, Wash.) finished fifth in her heat and 38th overall with a time of 58.72 seconds. Alessandra Gonzales (Pasadena, Calif.) crossed the finish line fifth in her heat of the 100 meter dash, finishing 31st overall with time of 12.54 seconds. Samuel Engle (Portland, Ore.) finished sixth in his heat and 22nd overall in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 55.99 seconds.
"It's good to be able to get the team down to California for good weather and great competition. The team is taking full advantage of this opportunity," Seattle U head track and field coach Trisha Steidl said.
Melu and Thummel-Gravitt will join those who competed at Azuza Pacific to participate in the Beach Invitational Saturday, April 19, at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif. The link to live stats is available on the track and field schedule page of GoSeattleU.com.