The Simon Fraser University track and field teams were in Seattle last weekend competing in the second event of the indoor season, the University of Washington Invitational.
The women finished fifth in the distance medley relay, while the men placed fourth, coming in behind top Division I programs Brigham Young and Utah.
The women’s team, including Rebecca Bassett, Kayla Lennea, Sarah Sawatzky and Kirsten Allen finished in a time of 12:08.03.
The men's team of Travis Vugteveen, Daniel Kelloway, Cameron Proceviat of Burnaby and Oliver Jorgensen finished behind teams from Oregon and the University of Washington, placing ahead of all other Div. II schools in a time of 10:04.15.
Vugteveen led the entire race to win his heat in the 800 metres in 1:54.
Senior James Young had a strong race in the mile, posting a personal best time of 4:12, which should put him in the thick of things come the Great Northwest conference championship.
Running in section one, the men's 4x400m relay team shaved another two seconds off their time to finish third in their race, one spot behind conference competitor Western Washington and one spot ahead of conference rival Western Oregon. Joel Webster, Stuart Ellenwood, Proveviat and Kelloway ran the race in a time of 3:19.81.
After a grueling race on Friday night in the distance medley relay, Sawatzky came back strong to finish second in the 800m on Saturday among Div. II racers, running in a time of 2:12.09.
Emma Chadsey, Bassett and Allen all ran personal-best times that should earn them spots at the conference meet in the mile competition. Chadsey won her section in a time of 5:10.79, while Bassett finished in 5:08.77 in her section and Allen in 5:07.12.
Competing against six Div. I throwers, Luca Molinari of Burnaby finished third in his flight of the weight throw with a throw of 14.20-metres.
The Clan men's and women's track and field teams will be back in action on Feb. 14 at the Husky Classic in Seattle.
