LOS ANGELES – The Loyola Marymount University Lions men's and women's Track and Field teams had a busy weekend competing in back-to-back meets for the first time this season.
 
On Friday night, Lilly Schmidt represented the Lions at the Sound Running College Invite in Irvine. Schmidt competed in an elite 1500m field, placing sixth in a time of 4:43.32.
 
On Saturday, the Lions competed in the APU Invitational on the campus of Azusa Pacific University. In the second heat of the women's 1500m, the Lions Ann Kelly won the race with a time of 4:45.51. In the same heat, Sammy Barajas set the pace, making a decisive move to lead from lap two, before falling to third at the finish in 4:48.28. Avery Doan was close behind in fifth place, running a career best 4:48.81.
 
In heat three, five of the seven Lions ran career bests including Shelby Page, Maya Kalach, Grace Tully, Marina Soares, and Rebecca Collins. Page dropped over 17 seconds from her previous career best, running 4:58.47 while Kalach got under the five minute barrier for the first time, running 4:58.94.
 
In the first heat of the men's 1500m, Shane Ely ran a PR of 4:00.46 to place eighth, and Zach Arias ran a season best, 4:04.31 to place 14th. In heat two, Hunter Krasa ran 4:06.16 in his 1500m debut.
 
In the men's 5,000m, three Lions set new career bests. Roberto Ruelas set the pace for most of his race, but fell to third place for a career best time of 15:11.62. Jacob Villegas and Andrew Biehl both set new career bests, running in heat three. Villegas dropped an impressive eight seconds from his previous best, running 15:28.30, and Biehl ran 15:41.40, one second under his previous best. 
 
In the women's 5,000m, Lauren Wagner and Dani Rowlinson worked together throughout the race. Lauren ran 17:51.55 in her first attempt at the 5,000m distance, and Dani finished close behind in 17:55.23, shaving another three seconds off of her previous best.
 
The Lions return to the track at Azusa Pacific next weekend for the Franson Classic on April 9th and 10th.
 
For more information on LMU Cross Country & Track and Field, follow the program on Twitter, like the Lions on Facebook, and join them on Instagram by searching for "lmulionstraxc."