Grand Canyon University reported on May 3 that its track and field teams delivered strong performances at the Desert Heat Classic in Tucson, Arizona, with several athletes achieving personal bests and setting school records.
The meet was the last of the regular season for the Grand Canyon Antelopes, who compete as an intercollegiate athletics program based at Grand Canyon University, according to the official website. The event saw standout results from both men’s and women’s teams across sprints, relays, middle-distance races, and field events.
Senior Miguel Rosario led the men’s sprint group with a time of 10.32 seconds in the 100 meters. In the 400 meters, senior Ben Stratman posted a season-best of 46.29 seconds to finish among the top ten competitors. On the women’s side, graduate Taliyah Booker set a new school record by running 52.77 seconds in the 400 meters.
Relay performances included a second-place finish for the women’s 4×100 team—composed of Hannah Smith, Nina Thevenin, Cassie Small, and Booker—with a time of 43.90 seconds that broke their previous school record this year. The men’s relay team also competed strongly against high-level opponents.
Middle-distance highlights featured senior Germain Lemaitre breaking his own school record in the men’s 800 meters with a personal-best time of 1:47.17. Other notable results included Jagger Zlotoff finishing second in the men’s 1,500 meters (3:48.93), Grace Scott achieving a personal best (4:44.97) in women’s competition over that distance, and Isabella Velazquez posting her best mark yet in steeplechase.
Field events saw sophomore Blake Heller jump over seven meters while Jacob Nash led javelin throws among his teammates; freshmen Ryan Willey and Juliana Garcia contributed solid marks in hammer throw and discus respectively; Eva Lowder cleared more than four meters in pole vaulting competition.
The Grand Canyon Antelopes participate under NCAA Division I rules within the Western Athletic Conference according to their official website (source). The university’s athletic programs are designed to support student-athletes’ academic progress alongside competitive development (according to GCU).
With this meet concluding their regular season schedule for track & field events—offering opportunities for student-athletes’ growth—the Lopes now prepare for Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships where they will seek to continue their conference title streak.
