Waves to Tackle Steeplechase at Pomona

MALIBU, Calif. Â A week removed from having its elite student-athletes tested at the Cal/Nevada Championships, the entire Pepperdine track and field program will be on hand to compete at this Saturday’s Pomona-Pitzer Invitational. 

The all-day meet begins at 9 a.m. and will be contested on Pomona College’s Strehle Track located in Claremont, Calif.

The Waves have traditionally done quiet well at the Pomona track, having set eight school records there since 2006. However, since the calendar turned over to 2009, many of those same marks have been eclipsed by this season’s roster.

One record that hasn’t been erased as of yet is the steeplechase, and that’s because the Waves haven’t entered this event until this weekend.

“This is the first chance we have for a few of our athletes to race in the steeplechase,” head coach Robert Radnoti said. “Lauren Lodge, who has been the star of the distance corps will be pointing to this race to set our school record and has a legitimate shot at the NCAA qualifying mark based on her 3,000 and 1,500-meter races.”

Lodge’s (Hopkinton, Mass./Hopkinton HS) top times in each of those two events have been clocked at 10:05.44 and 4:39.68 Â both school records.

Lodge hasn’t raced the steeplechase since high school; however, Pepperdine assistant Coach Chris Ogle, a NCAA steeplechase qualifier at the University of Arizona, has been working with her as well as Kenny Smith (Willits, Calif./Willits HS) and Evan Anderson (La Mesa, Calif./Steele Canyon HS) on their technique.

Of all the school records broken at Pomona, five have been in the sprint events and assistant coach Melvin Jones’ sprinters will be unleashing their kicks this weekend under sunny skies with temperatures in the low 70s.

Pepperdine’s sprinters will be spread throughout the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes as well as the 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays, which are seeded 7th and 8th, respectively with season best times of 49.33 and 4:04.78.

AWARDS: T-shirts will be awarded to all first-place finishers in all heats and field event flights. These can be picked up at the awards tent after the results are announced over the public address announce system.

CONCESSION STAND: A variety of food and beverages will be available for purchase next to the green shed after 11 a.m. Meet T-shirts will also be available for purchase after 3 p.m.

LOCATION: The track facility is located west of Mills Avenue on Pomona College's campus.  Park in campus lots (no fee). 

To get to Pomona College from I-10, take the Indian Hill exit north one mile to 4th Street. Turn right and go east six blocks past College Avenue and College Way. Park just below the baseball field. Some parking (and an entrance gate to the track) is available on Mills Avenue.

To get to Pomona College from I-210, take the Towne Avenue exit south for one mile to Foothill Boulevard. Turn left, and go one mile east to the Indian Hill stoplight. Turn right to 4th Street. Turn left and go six blocks past College Avenue and College Way. Park just below the baseball field. Some parking (and an entrance gate to the track) is available on Mills Avenue.

MEET SCHEDULE: Check the pdf file atop this page for the latest schedule.

RESULTS:  Unofficial results will be posted on the results board throughout the meet. Final results will be posted here in the evening after the meet ends.

Information from the Pomona College athletics’ web site was used in this report.

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