Pepperdine University
Bob Larsen Distance Carnival
Waves Run Well at UCLA's Distance Carnival
3/30/2018 12:00:00 AM | Track
LOS ANGELES, California " Jalen Frantal and Abbey Meck won their 5,000-meter events and Kevin Maeda edged closer to the school record in the 5,000 meters, highlighting the Pepperdine men's and women's track teams on Friday evening at UCLA's Bob Larsen Distance Carnival.
"It was a small group that went over to UCLA but it was a very good meet for us, just all in all a really great day of racing," Pepperdine Coach Robert Radnoti said. "I'm excited about the progress the team is making."
Maeda (Highland, Calif./Citrus Valley HS) was entered in the men's 5,000-meter invitational race, featuring the meet's top distance performers, and he came in fifth place overall with a time of 14:35.20. The Waves' senior recorded a PR by about three seconds that keeps him at #2 on the Waves' all-time list, and is less than three seconds away from Nick Heath's school mark.
"There were a lot of really good runners in this race and Kevin was just outstanding," Radnoti said. "He got a PR and I think he will get the school record by the end of the season."
Frantal (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville Central HS) won an earlier 5,000-meter race that included 26 competitors in 15:09.91. Justin Touhey (Stony Point, N.Y./Don Bosco Preparatory HS) was seventh and Preston Gromer (Casper, Wyo./Kelly Walsh HS) was 10th.
In the other women's 5,000 meters, Meck (Santa Cruz, Calif./San Lorenzo Valley HS) took first place in 17:49.53, putting her into #3 on the Waves' all-time list. Lindsay Sanger (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson HS) took sixth and Amanda Stahl (Clinton, Mass./Advanced Math & Science Academy) was 10th.
"Jalen ran an excellent race, led for quite a bit early, then a couple of other guys took over the lead, and then he waited until the end and had a dramatic finish to win the race in the last 10 meters or so," Radnoti said. "Right after that, the women's 5,000 was almost a repeat performance for Abbey, with her winning in the last 10 meters."
Kyle Johnson (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester HS) became only the third Wave ever to attempt the men's 10,000 meters, and he finished the grueling race in 31:55.14. Kieran Halewyn (Lake Oswego, Ore./Southridge HS) had the team's best showing in the mile in 4:23.68.
"Kyle wanted to run the 10,000, which is 25 laps and just a brutal race," Radnoti said. "He ran at a 5-minute pace for 4 to 4 1/2 miles before slowing a bit in the end. Kieran, Brandon Davis and Adam Fahey all set huge PRs in the mile, and I'm really proud of that group."
The next meet for the Waves is the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational a week from Saturday (April 7).
Players Mentioned
