For a freshman, Simon Fraser University sprinter Katherine Lucas has little time for convention.
The first-year NCAA Div. 2 competitor ran the second fastest 100 metres in Great Northwest Athletic Conference history on Saturday at the Long Beach State Invitational, easily eclipsing the provisional qualifying standard for nationals.
Her 11.82-second time put Lucas 12th out of a field of 98 runners from all over the world. It was also the 15th fastest time in NCAA Div. 2 this season.
“Katherine ran great and she came to perform,” said Clan head coach Brit Townsend. “We came away with several performances that are knocking on the door for nationals.”
It was also a new personal best for Lucas, who ran 12-seconds flat a day earlier at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif.
Valda Kabia, who delivered a sterling personal best in the 200m sprint at the Clay Invitational, wrapped up Saturday’s 100m in 12.19, good for 44th place.
In the men’s 100m race, Burnaby’s Nathan Mah registered another sub-11 second result, finishing in 10.97 for 55th place.
The women’s 800m race saw a pair of former SFU runners rack up excellent results, with alumna Lindsey Butterworth, for the Coastal Track Club, setting the pace with a winning time of 2:05.63. In fifth spot was Canadian Olympian and ex-Clan runner Jessica Smith, at 2:07.67, while SFU’s Addy Townsend finished 14th at 2:08.72.
In 32nd place was SFU’s Paige Nock. In the men’s 800m, Carlos Vargas was 56th with a time of 1:54.23.
Senior Daniel Kelloway placed seventh out of 86 runners in the men’s 400m, posting a 48.12 time. It was just short of the provisional qualifying standard of 47.94 needed for nationals.
A day earlier, middle distance runner Julia Howley and Kabia jumped into the national rankings with strong results at the Clay Invitational.
Howley was a standout in the 1500m, shaving five-full seconds off her personal best while finishing with the third quickest time in NCAA Div. 2 this season.
Her 4:25.45 was within two seconds of automatically qualifying for the national championships.
Kabia placed eighth, in 24.13 seconds, in the 200m race. It was the 10th fastest time in the NCAA this year.
