April 28, 2007
BERKELEY - It was Alysia Johnson and David Torrence day at the California Collegiate Challenge on Saturday at Edwards Stadium in Berkeley, Calif.
On the warm afternoon, Torrence ended the meet breaking Don Bowden's 50-year-old mile record with his amazing time of 3:58.62 and Johnson broke Louise Romo's 800-meter record with her time of 2:01.48. The Bears also saw 13 regional qualifying marks notched.
In 1957, Bowden became the first American to run a sub-four-minute mile, setting the Cal school record at 3:58.70. Fifty-years later with Bowden in attendance, Torrence notched the best time in Cal history.
"It was unbelievable, I can't believe that I was going to run that fast," Torrence said after breaking the school record. "Going into the race, I was nervous and I didn't know what to expect. The meet was a little bit delayed so I was worried that I was going to be cold for the race so I had my doubts and even anything I just wanted to get a regional qualifying mark."
Earlier in the afternoon Johnson knocked off Romo's 23-year-old record in the 800-meters with her impressive time of 2:01.48.
"Louise Romo's record stood for a very long time; she's in the Hall of Fame," distance coach Tony Sandoval said. "Anytime you can run near Louise Romo and break that record in a solo effort is very impressive."
Johnson's time was the best time in the 800 meters in the country this year. The time was also the NCAA indoor 800-meter champion's personal best time.
"[To break the school record], it means everything," the junior said after the race. "Louise Romo is someone that everyone at Cal admires; she has all those records. She did have a wonderful 1:59 (during her redshirt year). She's obviously an awesome athlete and to get that school record says so many things."
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After Johnson broke the women's 800-meter record, men's middle-distance runner sophomore Francis Gadayan won the men's 800-meter with his season-best clocking of 1:50.26. Sophomore Sean Carey finished behind Gadayan in the 800 meters with his personal best time of 1:51.07.
"Seeing Alysia run the fastest 800 in the country, makes you want to do a little better, gives you extra incentive," Gadayan said.
Records continued to drop, as the 4x400 relay team of junior Brook Turner, sophomore Mackenzie Pierce and Evelyn Smith and Johnson shaved 10 hundredths of a second off the former school record of 3:35.56 set in 1996 at the Mt. Sac Relays. Today's squad produced a new record of 3:35.46, a regional-qualifying mark in addition to the record.
In other events at the meet, Derrick Atkins shattered the Edwards Stadium record with his impressive time of 9.98, the fastest in the world so far this year.
In other events on the track, freshman Kimyon Broom finished third in the 100m hurdles with her season-best time of 13.77, a regional-qualifying mark, and junior Brook Turner joined Broom, posting a regional-qualifying mark in the 400 meters with her time of 53.64.
Sophomore Evelyn Smith collected her personal best of 1:00.52 in the 400-meter hurdles, which was also a regional- qualifying mark. Smith finished the race in fifth.
In field events, junior Cassandra Strickland finished third in the triple jump, with her regional-qualifying mark of 12.83m (42-01.25).
Sophomores Emilee Strot and Missy Faubus finished one-two in the shot put. Strot won the competition with her mark of 15.03 meters (49-03.75). Also setting a regional- qualifying mark, Faubus notched a 14.82 (48-07.50).
In the men's 110-meter hurdles, both junior Thomas Mack and sophomore Jordan Paul posted regional- qualifying times. Mack finished fifth at 14.07 and Paul placed sixth at 14.14.
Sophomore Jake Hanson won the men's 400-meter hurdles with his season-best time of 52.21, also a regional-qualifying mark.
In the 1,500 meters, junior middle distance runner, Eric Lee captured the individual honor after personal best 3:49.58.
In the javelin throw on the men's side, senior Jonas Hallgrimsson captured second place with his regional qualifying mark of 64.03 meters (210-01).
