Race Recap: Mangrum Invitational
Author: Quinn Roldan
Cal State San Marcos hosted the annual Mangrum Invitational on Friday, March 28th, delivering a thrilling day of competition packed with meet and stadium records. But the performance of the day—perhaps even the season—belonged to Ankita in the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase, as she stormed to the second-fastest time in the world this year.
Ankita left the field in her wake, crossing the line in a staggering 9:44.05—nearly a full minute ahead of her closest competitor. In doing so, she shattered both the meet and stadium records by an astonishing 51 seconds, firmly cementing herself as a world-class contender.
Earlier in the day in the Women’s 4 x100m Relay, Cal State San Bernardino (CSUSB) tied the meet and stadium record with a 45.41, the fourth-fastest time in school history. Just twenty minutes later, Nicole Ostertag, an unattached athlete added another highlight, running a wind-legal 13.47 in the Women's 100m Hurdles to set a new meet record and stadium record.
Cal State San Bernardino's Amari Weatherford kept the momentum rolling, doubling back from the 4 x 100m relay to win the Women’s 100m Dash in a wind-aided 11.49—setting a new school, meet, and stadium record! Close behind, Ava Simos, competing unattached, finished in 11.75, also dipping under the previous meet record.
The Men’s 4x400m Relay saw Cal Poly Pomona establish a new meet record of 3:13.92, thanks to strong legs from Joshua Morinaga (Jr), Leroy Cook (Jr), Alessio Sommacal (Sr), and Camden Patterson (Sr).
The distance races were electric, with impressive performances in both the Men’s and Women’s 5000m races. In the Women's 5000m, seven athletes dipped under the previous meet record, six of which represented UC Irvine. Kaia Schmidt led the anteaters taking the win in a lifetime best of 16:56.08—another meet and stadium record. UC Irvine’s dominance extended to the Men's 5000m, where sophomore Juan Chantaca ran a blistering 14:11.32 for the victory, setting yet another meet and stadium record in the process.
The field events were just as electric. Chloe Lindeman, the senior from Wisconsin, launched a massive 63.07m throw in the Women’s Hammer, setting a new meet and stadium record. Abigail Gavrilovic of Orange Coast also surpassed the previous meet record with a 52.00m mark. Meanwhile, Wisconsin freshman Zonica Lindeque made a statement by setting meet and stadium records in both the Shot Put and Discus throwing a new lifetime best of 49.03m in the Discus, and an impressive 15.87m in the Shot Put.
In the Men’s Shot Put, UC San Diego’s Cesar Salazar edged out teammate Zachary Lewis for the win, throwing 17.39m to Lewis’s 17.24m—both surpassing the previous meet and stadium records. UCSD continued its success in the Women’s Triple Jump, with Tamara Aimufia leaping to a new meet record of 12.04m.
With a world-class performance and numerous record-breaking efforts across the board, the Mangrum Invitational proved to be an inspiring display of talent and competition. The level of excellence seen throughout the meet sets the stage for an exciting outdoor season ahead, pushing athletes to chase even greater achievements.
