Thorner takes over collegiate lead and elevates to No. 4 in program history in 3,000-meter steeplechase, with Sandoval winning on home track and securing top 10,000 mark this season in Division 2; Cheruiyot, Mendez also victorious

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

AZUSA, Calif. – The latest standout in the impressive New Mexico women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase legacy was showcased Wednesday night at the Bryan Clay Invitational, with Elise Thorner of England elevating among the elite Lobos with her performance at Cougar Stadium.

Thorner moved into the top 25 competitors in collegiate history, running one of the five fastest times achieved in April by clocking 9 minutes, 40.98 seconds to achieve the meet record, along with prevailing against Logan Jolly of Arkansas.

Thorner moved to No. 4 in program history, trailing only collegiate record holder Courtney Frerichs (9:20.92), Canadian standout and former NCAA Division 1 runner-up Charlotte Prouse (9:34.25) and Israeli Olympian Adva Cohen (9:38.01).

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Thorner just missed the European Championships standard of 9:39.0, but is well on her way to qualifying to compete in Munich in August with her collegiate-leading performance.

Jolly not only eclipsed the 10-minute barrier for the first time in her career, but ascended to the No. 3 competitor in program history by clocking 9:45.47.

Krissy Gear, the Arkansas record holder at 9:38.62 from last year, took third Wednesday in 10:00.26.

Jessica Kamilos, who ran 9:41.28 in 2016 for the Razorbacks, is the only other Arkansas female athlete to run faster than Jolly.

Eleonora Curtabbi of West Texas A&M, an Italian competitor, improved on her NCAA Division 2 leading mark by finishing fourth in 10:09.85.

Curtabbi, who ran a personal-best 10:08.80 in 2017 in Italy, achieved her best time since then by elevating to the No. 16 performer in Division 2 history.

Jenny Sandoval of host Azusa Pacific won the women’s invitational 10,000 meters in 33:10.74, also the fastest performance in Division 2 this season.

Sandoval, an All-American last year after placing runner-up in the 10,000 and fourth in the 5,000 to help Azusa Pacific capture the Division 2 team title, ran the second-fastest time in her career on the strength of a 66-second last lap, trailing only her 32:58.39 effort from the Bryan Clay Invitational last season.

Utah Valley took the next four spots behind Sandoval, with Everlyn Kemboi leading the way in 33:12.98, followed by Hannah Branch (33:17.45), Mazzie Melaney (33:35.29) and Caila Odekirk (34:03.06).

Titus Cheruiyot of UTEP won the men’s 10,000 in 29:14.08, including a 61-second final lap, to pull away from Chinese athletes TianYu Chen (29:16.06) and QingHua Zong (29:17.05).

Daniel Johanning of Costa Rica was fourth in 29:18.08, with Robbie Schmidt of Fort Hays State finishing fifth in 29:22.63, ascending to No. 9 in Division 2 this season.

Joel Mendez of Montana edged Gable Sieperda of Iowa State by an 8:42.22 to 8:43.45 margin in the men’s invitational 3,000 steeplechase.

Ryan Hartman of Augustana in South Dakota enjoyed the biggest breakthrough in the field, relying on a 19-second improvement to win his section in 8:44.07, the second-fastest time in Division 2 this season and No. 20 all-time in the division overall.

Cheyenne Williamson of Saginaw Valley State was the first-day leader in the elite section of the women’s heptathlon with 3,509 points, with British athlete Jade O’Dowda a close second at 3,493 points.

Oregon’s Max Vollmer led the elite section of the men’s decathlon at the midway point with 4,236 points and UC Irvine’s Josh Farmer is second with 4,155 points.