March 1, 2013

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LOS ANGELES -- The Lions begin a busy month of March by competing at Long Beach State's Beach Classic, this Saturday, held at Cerritos College in Norwalk, Calif.

This Week:
Event: Beach Classic
Location: Norwalk, Calif.
Venue: Cerritos College
Date: Saturday, Mar. 2
Times: 11:10 a.m. (Women's 1500), 11:35 a.m. (Men's 1500m)
Host: Long Beach State

• Meet Schedule 
• Meet Records
• Facility Map 

LION TRACKS
This past weekend, the Lions participated in a Quad Meet in Orinda, Calif. with fellow West Coast Conference member institutions Saint Mary's, San Francisco and Santa Clara.

The prior weekend, junior Kevin Joerger won the men's 3000m race at the Pomona-Pitzer All-Comers meet, joining several Lions in setting new personal records in the first full team run of the year. Joerger finished the 3000-meter run in 8:27.51, setting a new personal record in the process. Junior Drew Dalton finished third overall, with a time of 8:35.55. Douglas Petree and Michael Vorgitch, came in at 8:39.08 and 8:41.07, for fourth and fifth, respectively. Freshman Michael Duncan ran the 3k in 8:50.86, which placed him 10th. Senior Michael Carlone placed 12th in 8:52.41, establishing a new personal-best rime. Fellow senior Greg Innes was a second behind at 8:53.28, also a new PR, for 14th overall.

For the LMU women, a block of five Lions finished between third and seventh. Senior Cassandra Salazar lead the pack with a time of 10:19.68. Callie Mulgannon and Sarah Vitug set PRs finishing in 10:20.10 and 10:21.75. Senior Caroline Draper had a time of 10:25.10. Freshman Kelli Sugimoto rounded out the Lions' front five in 10:25.18.

STRUMMING ALONG
LMU junior Weston Strum finished the 3000-meter at the Husky Classic in 8:10.22, setting a new school record on the indoor track earlier this month at the University of Washington's Husky Classic. Strum's time was 17th of 84 competitors.

A second-place finish at the University of Portland's West Coast All-Star Mile preceded his record-setting performance in Seattle. Strum finished with a time of 4:15.79, only five-hundredths of a second behind Portland's Izaic Yorks's 4:15.74, which set a new record at the annual event which took place during halftime of the LMU-Portland men's basketball game. The race featured runners from Portland's track & field team, in addition to members of the Bowerman Athletic Club and the Men of Troy.

ACADEMIC HONORS
The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) earlier this week named its All-Academic teams and individuals honorees for the 2012 season. LMU's men's and women's teams each received honors from the coaches' association. In addition, senior Sheree Shea received All-Academic status for her accomplishments in the classroom and for finishing in the top-15 at the NCAA West Regional last season.

LMU's men had a cumulative GPA of 3.18, third highest amongst qualifying West Coast Conference members. To qualify as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country team, the team must have had a cumulative team GPA of 3.00 or better and have started at least five runners in their respective NCAA regional championship.

The Lions' women's team earned a cumulative GPA of 3.29, also the third highest of WCC schools. Shea received individual honors after finishing 11th at the NCAA West Regional last November qualifying her for the NCAA National Championship in Louisville, Ky. The senior finished 181st in at the Championships with a time of 21:23.2 in the 6k.

LAST YEAR AT THE BEACH CLASSIC
Brittnie Munoz finished first for the Lions with a time of 4:45.32, placing fifth overall in the women's 1500-meter race. Munoz set a new personal record by more than a second. Caroline Draper followed close behind finishing 13th overall, with a time of 4:53.49. Sophomore Kelly Shogren crossed 18th in 4:55.96, her personal-best. Cassandra Salazar ran a 4:56.52 for 20th place. Freshman Aeoleone Bristow, running in her first collegiate outdoor track race, finished with a time of 4:58.12, 22nd overall.

In the men's 1500m, Drew Dalton continued his great performances this season with a fourth-place finish. Dalton crossed the finish line in 3:53.95. Close behind was Tyre Johnson who ran a 3:59.62, ending up in seventh place. Kevin Joerger finished 25th in times of 4:06.92. Sterling Lockert ran in 4:10.82 for 37th and Michael Carlone in 4:11.12 for 38th.

- GO LIONS -