RESULTS

HAYWARD, Calif. — Any track & field coach will tell you the importance of a good pre-meet meal. The Portland State track & field team left their pre-meet meal Thursday with less than they had going in, however, as thieves smashed the team's van's windows and took some of the Viking women's spikes while the team stopped off for a bite before heading to the Mike Fanelli Track Classic at Chabot College.
 
Fortunately, freshmen Linnaea Kavulich and Phoebe Brown weren't among the victims of the burglary, and still had their spikes as they geared up for their first 3,000-meter steeplechase as Vikings.
 
Kavulich handled the bizarre pre-meet circumstances like a champ, and finished her first collegiate steeplechase in 11:14.99. Kavulich's time moved her up to third all time in the event at Portland State, behind only teammate Sarah Medved and Mandy Peterson. Kavulich's time Thursday put her just over three seconds behind Peterson's No. 2 time, which had been the school record for 15 years before Medved knocked more than 50 seconds off of it last season.
 
Kavulich placed second in her section of the steeplechase, just over five seconds behind Haley Beaumont, a junior from Hawai'i. Brown placed 12th in the same section of the steeplechase, finishing in 11:42.62 – a time that beat the No. 10 time coming into the day.
 
Freshmen Drew Seidel and Josh Snyder also made their steeplechase debuts on the men's side Thursday, and Snyder even added to the drama of the day. Again, it was the spikes at the center of the drama, as Snyder tripped on his laces with 200 meters to go, causing him to fall forward and hit his head on the barrier. Snyder remained down for five seconds before getting up and finishing the race. Snyder's admirable finish went for naught, however, as his fall forced him to roll under the barrier he hit, which disqualified him from the race.
 
Seidel didn't have the same drama in his race, as he placed fourth in his section in 9:29.98. Seidel's time moved him up to 10th all time in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase at Portland State.
 
The Vikings continue at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic Friday, when they'll compete across several sections of the men's and women's 1,500 and 5,000 meters. Kristen Walker will open the day for the Vikings in the 12th section of the women's 1,500 meters at 3:54 p.m. (PT). Medved and Kaila Gibson will also run at the Stanford Invitational Friday, with Medved competing in the steeplechase at 5:28 p.m. (PT), while Gibson runs the 10,000 meters at 10:19 p.m. (PT).
 
Mike Fanelli Track Classic
Chabot College
Hayward, Calif.
March 28, 2019
 
Women's Results:
3,000m Steeplechase: 29. Linnaea Kavulich, 11:14.99; 43. Phoebe Brown, 11:42.62.
 
Men's Results:
3,000m Steeplechase: 40. Drew Seidel, 9:29.98; Josh Snyder, DQ.