Long Beach State Gets Off To A Strong Start To The Indoor Season

Friday, January 19

USAF Academy, Colo.

1:30 p.m.

Long Beach State University

Air Force Lindeman Classic

Long Beach State Gets Off To A Strong Start To The Indoor Season

1/19/2024 7:58:00 PM | Indoor Track

Sofia Lavreshina Breaks A 36-Year Old School Record In The Women’s 400m

By: Matt Turk, Associate Athletic Communications Director

USAFA, Colo.—Highlighted by a new school record in the women's 400m, the Long Beach State men's and women's track and field teams opened the 2024 indoor season Friday at the Air Force Lindeman Classic.

WOMEN
Sofia Lavreshina, in her debut after transferring to LBSU from James Madison, broke the 36-year-old school record in the 400m during the prelims. She ran 54.71aa to reset the mark of 54.78 set by Kerri Zaleski in 1988. Her time was over a second faster than the second-place runner, Air Force's Taylor Rioux (56.78).

Rahni Turner led a 1-2-3 LBSU sweep in the 60m hurdles' qualifying. Turner ran 8.44aa to place first, followed by Hailey Fune' (8.58aa) and Amyah Davis (8.75aa). Davis tied Erricka Feazell (2008) for 10th in school history in the event.

The Beach will have six athletes in the finals as Jenelle Hurley (5th, 9.16aa), Sofia Bailey (6th, 9.23aa), and Alli Bryan (8th, 9.42aa) also advanced.

Kaitlyn Williams and Jayda Rustemoglu both moved on in the 60m. Williams won heat one by going 7.61aa. Rustemoglu followed in second at 7.82aa. Williams is now tied for ninth in school history in the event with Jessica Branker (2006).

Williams and Rustemoglu returned later in the 200m. Williams' 24.51 was the second-quickest qualifying time, while Rustemoglu went 25.00 to place third. Joining their teammates in the 200m final are Lavreshina (5th, 25.32) and Turner (6th, 25.48). Pending an altitude adjustment, Williams' mark will land between fifth and seventh place in the LBSU record book.

Daryana Hall made the finals in the 400m by posting the eighth fastest time of the prelims, 1:00.80aa.

Finals were conducted on the field side, beginning with the weight throw, where Giszelle Hrehor posted a 60-9 1/2 toss to earn her a third-place result. Her performance is the fourth-best in school history.

Hurley came in third in the long jump. She went 19-4 3/4, the third-longest performance in school history.

Annie Murphy finished third in the pole vault with a leap of 12-9 1/2. Her mark is the third highest in program history. Natasha Tehrani, who came in fifth, tied Rebecca Adams (2007) for ninth in school history as she went 12-1 1/2.

MEN
Justin Watterson advanced to the finals of the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.03aa (second overall). Justice Fair (6th, 8.28aa) and Aidan Turner (8th, 8.41aa) are joining Watterson in the finals. Watterson's mark is the third quickest in school history, while Fair is now tied for 11th with Derreck Affor (2019).

Tristyn Flores and Malik Harness made it to the finals of the 60m. Flores' 6.88aa earned him the third seed in the finals, while Harness ran 6.93aa.

Three Long Beach State entries moved on to the finals in the 400m. Patrick Henderson was third (49.39aa), Caleb Roberson finished fourth (49.52aa), and Omri Shiff was seventh (50.48aa).

Harness and Watterson qualified for the finals in the 200m. Harness finished fourth (21.83), while Watterson placed sixth (21.93).

All the field events conducted on Friday were finals. Kyle Jankans and TJ Funches went 6-8 3/4 in the high jump. Jankans was awarded second in the event via tiebreaker. Milo Orona tied for eighth in the high jump (6-2 3/4) with three other competitors.

Turner went 24-3 in the long jump to come in fourth. He moved into a tie for sixth with Benjamin Ahenguah (2023) in the school history category. Fair tallied an indoor career best of 23-6 1/4 to finish seventh. Novye' James finished eighth (23-3 1/4).

In the weight throw, Canaan Wharry recorded the top Long Beach State performance, 58-6, to finish sixth. Micah Norfles was eighth in the weight throw with a 57-4 3/4 toss.

*NOTE aa=Altitude Adjusted

UP NEXT
The Air Force Lindeman Classic's final day begins on Saturday at 10 a.m. (PT) field events. The running races get underway at 11 a.m. (PT).

~#GoBeach~