Feb. 20, 2011
Photo Gallery 
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -
Full Results
Photo Gallery
The Lions kicked off their spring outdoor track season yesterday at the Pomona Pitzer All-Comers meet hosted by Pomona College. The Lions had a successful day winning three of the four events they were entered in and took second in the fourth. Additionally with a young team, nine Lions set new personal records in only their first race of the season.
For the women, Sophomore Sheree Shea set a new personal record in the 3000meter race. Shea won the race in 9:57 and was the only finisher to break ten minutes. Additionally with this performance, Shea became only the fourth female in LMU history to break ten minutes for the 3k. Brieanna Delaney was the second Lion to finish in the 3k. Delaney ran a personal best of 10:23.03 placing fifth overall putting her 10th all-time for LMU. Close in step, Freshman freshman Brittnie Munoz also ran 10:23.28 for a personal best in her first collegiate track race. Sophomore Jessica Mumaugh finished in 10:32 for a personal record by over fifteen seconds from her best time last season. Sophomore Caroline Draper finished 12th overall while freshman teammate Kelly Shogren finished 13th overall. Draper's 10:41 was an improvement from her performance at this same invitational last year while Shogren ran 10:42 for her first ever collegiate track race. Stephanie Felix finished in 10:55 breaking into the top 20 overall placing 19th overall.
In the mile race, Senior Cynthia Chiadez ran 5:12 for a second place finish overall. This time puts her 3rd all time at LMU for the mile distance. Senior Shea Franklin also had a good race to kick off her senior season. Shea ran a 5:32 finishing 11th overall. Freshman Laura Delgado finished 29th overall in 5:48 for her first college track race.
For the men, the Lions were highlighted by a spectacular finish by freshman Weston Strum who came from dead last place to win the mile in 4:20.33. With this win and time, Strum broke LMU's record running the fastest outdoor mile in LMU history. Also in the mile race, sophomore Greg Innes and junior Oran Arms both finished in 4:28 placing 12th and 13th respectively. Junior Thomas Finnigan came in close behind placing 15th overall 4:31 while freshman Mike Evans ran 4:34 placing 21st overall for his first college track race. Also for the Lions Senior Scott Donahue, who is coming off an injury, ran 4:42 placing 33rd overall. Freshman Dan Smith placed 38th in 4:45 and senior Mike Herrera tied his personal best finishing in 4:45 placing 39th overall.
In the 3000m, on the men's side, the young talent of LMU's freshman continued to shine. Kevin Joerger won the race in 8:40 for his first collegiate track race, this time puts him 8th all-time at LMU. Sophomore, Sterling Lockert got a top five finish in 8:42 for the Lions while teammate Tyre Johnson finished in 8:51 placing 10th overall. Connor Pastoor just missed breaking nine minutes placing 17th overall in 9:00. Henry Jordan placed 20th overall finishing in 9:05 for his first collegiate track race with a huge personal record that put him 20th all-time at LMU. Finally Phillip Benavides ran 9:14 placing 29th, Michael Carlone finished 39th in 9:27 overall.
Even in rainy and windy conditions, the Lions showed that after a successful Cross Country season they were back in action on the track. Already the Lions set new personal bests and ran times to put them on LMU's All-Time list.
Head Coach Scott Guerrero said, "It was a great day at the track for us, we had a lot of our freshmen run great times in their first collegiate track races. We also won three races out of the four we were entered in, so it was a successful day for LMU."
