Picking up where they left off, Simon Fraser University distance runners Julia Howley and Miryam Bassett hit the track and cracked the top 15 at the season-opening University of Washington Indoor Preview on Saturday.
Howley established a personal best by completing the 3,000-metre course in 9:32.78, good for 12th overall in a pack that included 2017 New York City Marathon champion and U.S. record holder Shalane Flanagan.
The SFU senior’s time is the fastest in NCAA Div. 2 this season, and was the sixth fastest in Great Northwest Athletic Conference history. Howley’s time was just 3.5 seconds short of the automatic qualifying time for NCAA Div. 2 nationals.
Bassett, meanwhile, was in great form in finishing 19th, with a time of 9:53.87. Both Howley and Bassett earned All-American status leading SFU’s 10th-place showing at the cross country national championships two months ago.
In 20th spot was another senior, Reta Dobie, with a time of 9:54.01.
On the men’s side, Rowan Doherty secured a personal best time of 8:20.90 and 15th overall, while senior Oliver Jorgensen finished 19th in his first indoor race in two years. Jorgensen’s time was 8:24.04.
In throw events, SFU’s Peter Behncke set a personal best with a toss of 16.51 metres to place fifth, whle Freshman Holly Taylor also shredded her personal best with a 13.25m shot put throw, placing ninth.
