LONG BEACH, California – Thomas Lewer of the Pepperdine track team set a new school record in the 400-meter hurdles and Karl Winter won the 1,500 meters at the Beach Opener on Saturday, as the Waves completed their second outdoor meet of the season.
 
Lewer (Steamboat Springs, Colo./Steamboat Springs HS) collected a time of 58.88, which was 0.78 faster than the previous record set in 2019. It was his first time running the event in college Additionally, Winter (Stockton, Calif./Saint Mary's HS) had a first-place finish in the 1,500 meters in a time of 3:50.68, which was a new meet record for himself.
 
Freshman Colin Proctor (Coppell, Texas/Coppell HS) had two heat wins in the 1,500 meters in a time of 4:07.35 and the 800 meters posting a time of 2:01.92. Junior Jaad Abduljawad (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia/Cal Coast Academy) collected a heat win in the 100 meters finishing in a time of 11.19, which is also a personal record. Sophomores Ryan Hemphill (Visalia, Calif./Redwood HS) and Austin Gromer (Casper, Wyo./Mountain View HS) also ran in the 1,500 meters, each posting personal records for themselves. Hemphill posted a time of 4:04.00 and Gromer finished in a time of 4:12.69.
 
On the women's side, freshman Kaley Peterson (Sunnyvale, Calif./Saint Francis High School) also notched two heat wins in the 100 meters and 200 meters. Peterson ran the 100 meters in a time of 12:43 and posted a time of 25.59 in the 200 meters. Freshman Abigail Howard (Jefferson, Ga./Jefferson HS) finished second in her heat in the 100-meter hurdles clocking in at 17.23 and freshman Lauren Rocco (Port Orange, Fla./Spruce Creek HS) marked a new personal record in the 100 meters finishing in a time of 17.68. Senior Annelies Ondersma (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./University Liggett School) notched an eighth-place finish in her heat in the 3,000 meters in a time of 10:59.18, which is also a new personal record. Sophomore Skylar Davis (Savannah, Ga./Savannah Arts Academy) also marked a new personal record in the 3,000 meters clocking in at 11:06.89.
 
"The conditions on the track were tough today, it was cold and windy which doesn't usually make for fast times, but our athletes rose to the occasion," said head coach Lauren Floris. "It was really exciting to see Thomas break the school record in the 400 hurdles in his first time running the event. Another highlight of the day was Karl winning the 1,500 and breaking his own meet record! Across the board we saw lots of personal bests and strong early season races. We're looking forward to Occidental next weekend and hopefully more favorable racing conditions."
 
Pepperdine next heads to Occidental College for the Oxy Distance Carnival and Spring Break Classic on Saturday, March 12.