COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Nick Nowlen cruised to an easy victory in the 800 meters with a solid early-season time, and MSU Denver won both the men's and women's 4x400 relays on Saturday to highlight the second day of competition for the Roadrunners at UCCS' Pre-Holiday Invitational & Multi.
Nowlen won the 800 in 1 minute, 56.45 seconds, finishing 5.12 seconds ahead of the second-place competitor and within range of his career indoor best of 1:54.01. Saturday's time, converted for altitude and track size to 1:53.77, ranks 16th in NCAA Division II so far this season.
Nowlen also ran the third leg on the 4x400 relay that finished 3:29.25. Ethan Loper, Brandon Bodner, Nowlen and Brayden Hamby finished nearly six seconds ahead of the other team entered in the race.
In the women's 4x400, Allyssa Romero, Claire Hummel, Kamryn Scott and Teagan Garand's winning time of 4:05.06 ranks fourth on the program's all-time performer list (only the best time of each season is considered) and surpassed last year's best time of 4:07.48.
"Today was another really great day of competition," MSU Denver coach Janis Christopher said. "I couldn't have asked for a better start to our indoor season. Our student-athletes put in a lot of work this fall, and we are happy to see them reaping the rewards they deserve. We are excited to see what the rest of the season will hold for this team."
Other highlights include PJ Guidry flying into second place on the program's all-time performer list in the men's triple jump with an effort of 13.71 meters (44 feet, 11 ¾ inches) to finish sixth. That topped his previous career best by 0.98 meters (3 feet, 2 ¾ inches).
And freshman Anthony Martinez became only the sixth MSU Denver men's performer in the 60 hurdles, but he quickly raced up to second on the program's all-time performer list with a second-place time of 8.50.
In the women's hurdles, Summer Jarolmen was sixth in 9.88
Also Saturday, Bodner ran the mile for the first time in his career and placed sixth (fourth among collegians) in 4:39.0.
