LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Wins by Katie Engel and Kevin Maeda in the women's and men's 5,000 meters, respectively, highlighted Pepperdine's involvement in the Randall Cunningham Track Classic at UNLV on Saturday.

Engel (Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima HS), a junior, beat 11 other runners in the women's 5,000, finishing with a time of 17:52.90 that puts her at #3 on Pepperdine's top five list.

Maeda (Highland, Calif./Citrus Valley HS), a freshman, was quicker than four others in the men's 5,000, making it to the finish line in 15:41.47.

"The day started out really well with Katie and Kevin," Pepperdine Coach Robert Radnoti said. "Katie ran a really smart race. She ran like a machine. One of the UNLV girls tried to stay with her but Katie broke and ran on her own for a while, and ran a respectable time in winning the race. It was neat that Kevin also won the 5,000. He ran a very good race for a first-time freshman."

The women's 4x400 team, consisting of sophomore Jordan Spencer (Grand Prairie, Texas/South Grand Prairie HS), freshman Claudia Rodriguez (Nashville, Tenn./ Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet HS), junior Stasia Demick (Seattle, Wash./Holy Names Academy) and freshman Madison Blume (Glendora, Calif./St. Lucy's Priory HS), won their heat in a time of 4:03.89 and finished second overall.

Radnoti also praised the women's 4x100 team, which included Spencer, Rodriguez, freshman Sarah Landers (Vancouver, Wash./Columbia River HS) and Blume, which ran 51.28.

"I'm bullish that our relay teams will beat the school records by the end of the year," he said."

Pepperdine's top runners in the other women's events included Rodriguez in the 100 and 200, Blume in the 400 (fourth place), Demick in the 800 meters, freshman Amanda Stark (Fountain Valley, Calif./Fountain Valley HS) in the 1,500, sophomore Tori Occhipinti (Coto de Caza, Calif./Crean Lutheran HS) in the 100 hurdles and junior Hannah Turpin (Lebanon, Ohio/Lebanon HS) in the 400 hurdles. Senior Lisa Santroch (Shoreline, Wash./Shorewood HS) ran the 3,000 steeplechase for the first time this season. Spencer won a heat in the 800 menters.

On the men's side, freshman Kyle Cajero (Tucson, Ariz./Pusch Ridge Christian Academy) was second and sophomore Torin Wile (Beverly Hills, Mich./Brother Rice HS) was fifth in the 800 meters, while freshman Rudy Gonzalez (Whittier, Calif./California HS) was third and sophomore Nick Blanchard (Portland, Conn./Portland HS) was fifth in the 1,500 meters.

Following the meet, the Waves went over to the Orleans Arena to cheer on the Pepperdine men's basketball team in the Waves' WCC Tournament quarterfinal victory over San Diego.

The Waves will next run at Cal State Fullerton's Ben Brown Invitational next Saturday (March 14).