Azusa, Calif.— The Grizzlies took part in the Bryan Clay Invitational, a multi-day track and field competition held at Cougar Athletic Stadium in Azusa, California. During the event, they not only competed but also set new personal records and broke three division records, demonstrating their exceptional skill and achievement in this prestigious meet.
 
Thursday Recap
 
In the Women's 3000m steeplechase event, Gracie Hyde delivered an outstanding performance, finishing 2nd with a time of 9:28.17 at the invite. Her impressive achievement included setting a new Division II (DII) record, surpassing the previous record of 9:40 held by Eilish Flanagan in 2021, by an impressive margin of 12 seconds. Gracie Hyde's remarkable performance not only secured her a notable placement in the event but also established a new standard of excellence in DII women's 3000m steeplechase. In addition to Hyde's impressive performance, Morgan Hykes and Emily Schoellkopf also competed in the event.  Hykes finished 34th with a time of 10:20.20 setting a new personal record, while Emily Schoellkopf finished 45th with a time of 10:42.20.
 
In the Women's 3000m steeplechase open event, Erin Stonebarger competed and finished 52nd with a time of 10:51.51.
 
In the Women's 10000m invite event, Precious Robinson competed in a demanding and prestigious race. She finished in 22nd place with a time of 34:06.05.
 
In the Men's 3000m steeplechase open event, Zak Beckwith competed and finished 32nd with an impressive time of 9:03.20. While finishing 32nd among strong competition, his time reflects his commitment to excellence in this challenging event.
 
In the Men's 10000m invite event, Dayton Brown demonstrated exceptional endurance and skill, securing an impressive 11th place finish with a time of 28:35.64.
 
Friday Recap
 
In the Men's 5000m invite event, Romain Legendre delivered a standout performance, securing 3rd place with a remarkable time of 13:16.53. This achievement set a new Division II (DII) record, surpassing the previous record of 13:22 set back in 2002 by 6 seconds. Romain's accomplishment highlights his exceptional skill and endurance as a distance runner.
 
Additionally, Dayton Brown finished in 17th place with a time of 14:08.54, demonstrating his competitive spirit and ability in the 5000m event. Mitchell Dervin followed closely, finishing 25th with a time of 14:20.24, showcasing his determination and effort in a challenging field.
 
In the Men's open 5000m B event, Kidus Begashaw delivered an impressive performance, securing 2nd place with a noteworthy time of 14:03.15, showcasing his exceptional speed and endurance across the 12.5-lap race distance. Following closely behind in 3rd place was Emil Bezecny, who finished with a strong time of 14:04.66, closely trailing Kidus in this closely contested event.
 
In the Men's 800m open event, Jake Beckwith participated in a competitive field, finishing in 112th place with a time of 1:54.08.
 
In the Women's 5000m B event, Maggie McCleskey delivered a strong performance, finishing in 2nd place with a time of 16:21.17.
 
In the Women's 800m open event, Stephanie Cotter put forth a strong performance, finishing in 8th place with a time of 2:08.75. Ava O'Connor finished in 38th place with a time of 2:11.02, demonstrating her effort and commitment in a challenging race. Vienna Lahner finished in 66th place with a time of 2:12.23, showcasing her perseverance and participation in this competitive event.
 
In the Women's 800m invite event, Lieke Hoogsteen participated and secured 77th place with a time of 2:08.52.
 
In the Women's 5000m open event, Fiona Hawkins participated and concluded her race in 31st place, achieving a time of 17:24.85.
 
In the Women's 5000m invite event heat two, Brianna Robles displayed her endurance and competitive ability, achieving a 13th place finish with an impressive time of 15:53.53. Tristian Spence delivered a strong performance, finishing in 6th place in heat three with a time of 15:58.43. Her race demonstrated exceptional endurance and speed, placing her among the top competitors in a demanding distance event. Morgan Hykes followed in 19th place with a time of 16:26.82, showcasing her determination and skill as she navigated through the competitive field. Emily Schoellkopf finished closely behind in 21st place with a time of 16:30.43, demonstrating her resilience and competitive spirit throughout the race.
 
 
 
Saturday Recap
 
The Women's 1500m Invite race showcased impressive performances. Gracie Hyde stood out by finishing 9th with a time of 4:08.95, setting a new Division II (DII) record which surpassed the previous record of 4:11.06 from 2010. Vienna Lahner secured 91st place with a time of 4:22.12, followed by Elena Carey in 123rd place with a time of 4:25.53. Ava O'Connor finished 137th with a time of 4:26.57, and Stephanie Cotter completed the race in 144th place with a time of 4:27.37.
 
The Women's 1500m Open A race featured several athletes performing at varying levels. Tristian Spence finished in 12th place with a time of 4:26.10, demonstrating a strong performance within the top ranks of the event. Maggie McCleskey followed closely behind in 16th place with a time of 4:26.81, showcasing a competitive effort. Lieke Hoogsteen secured 25th place with a time of 4:27.45, while Fiona Hawkins finished in 60th place with a time of 4:29.52. Amalia Dorion completed the race in 185th place with a time of 4:41.97.
 
The Men's 1500m Invite featured Romain Legendre, who finished in 33rd place with an impressive time of 3:41.84.
 
In the Men's 1500m Open A race, Mitchell Dervin finished in 160th place with a time of 3:54.48, followed closely by Kidus Begashaw in 169th place with a time of 3:55.57.
 
In the Men's 1500m Open B race, Nathan Scherbarth finished with a time of 3:53.82, securing a strong performance likely within the top ranks of this category. Emil Bezecny followed with a time of 3:56.74, also demonstrating a competitive effort in this race.
 
The Men's 1500m Open C race involved Zak Beckwith finishing in 37th place with a time of 3:58.11, Jake Beckwith securing 82nd place with a time of 4:00.12, and Elijah De La Cerda coming in 132nd place with a time of 4:03.12.
 
Next up, the Grizzlies will be competing at the Maverick Invite #2 on April 14th, starting at 12:00 p.m. This event will take place at the CMU Track & Field Complex in Grand Junction, Colorado. Following this, they will participate in the Don Kirby Tailwind Invitational on April 19th, held at the UNM Track & Field Complex in Albuquerque, New Mexico.