SHUHEI MATSUO
Sports Assistant
Saturday was a new-school-record festival for the Waves. The recently formed Pepperdine women’s track team had its second meet of the season at last week’s Northridge Invitational, posting three school records.
“Every time we run a new race, it’s a school record,” assistant coach Robert Radnoti said. “I think that’s kind of a neat thing that it’s a little bit historical for the team, and they (the runners) are setting the marks for the future generations to come.”
In Saturday’s Cal State Northridge Invitational, Pepperdine’s 800 meter and 1600 meter teams raced to school-record finishes, while freshman Crystal Brown turned in the program’s fastest time in the 100 meter.
Brown’s 14.61 second clocking in the 100 meter is the top time for a Wave this season, quickly followed by senior Tina Jeon’s 15.17.
Although both Brown and Jeon posted impressive times in their first track race in college, they weren’t in their best condition at the starting line.
According to Jeon, she and Brown were supposed to be at the starting line for their 100-meter race, but they lost track of time while we were warming up and almost missed their race. Luckily, Jeon said, assistant coach Jessica White saved them from missing the race when she went to the bathroom and found out that the runners were still there. When Jeon and Brown got to the starting line, they were already out of breath, Jeon said, but they still managed to finish the race solidly.
In the 1500 meter, freshman Marissa Kerby finished ninth overall completing the three-plus lap race in 5:34.55, while freshman Ashley Burt placed 16th with 5:50.53.
The Waves fielded a 1600-meter team of sophomore Sarah Camp, freshman Amanda Gordon, junior Kyla Maher and freshman Brieanna Carroll. As the anchor leg, Carroll ran a team-best split time of 5:21 as Pepperdine finished third in the event. Camp ran the opening leg in a time of 5:35 before giving way to Gordon who handed the baton to Maher who finished the two-lap leg in 5:38.
A consistent effort from all four legs of the 800-meter relay team produced a sixth-place finish. Sophomore Lauren Carfioli started the relay with a team-best 2:33 opening leg. Maher followed the first runner with 2:24 before giving way to freshman Julia Ann Frudden, who turned in a 2:35 clocking. Pepperdine finished the relay with a 10:25 when junior Beth Bedingfield concluded the anchor leg in a time of 2:42.
Watching his runners making progress, Radnoti seemed happy with the results.
“Three school records,” Radnoti said with an excitement.
For the last eight years, Radnoti coached at Thousand Oaks High School, which won the California State Championships in 2005. He said he is excited to coach for the newly formed Pepperdine women’s track team.
Radnoti also described the team as a great team.
“They are absolutely a wonderful group of people and the perfect group of people to start out the women’s track team,” he said.
The women’s track team needs more runners, according to Radnoti. For those who are interested, please contact him, Head Coach Dick Kampmann or volunteer assistant Jessica White at ext. 4165.
03-23-2006