FRESNO, Calif. – Saturday's Central California Invitational was highlighted by FPU track's Bryan Banuelos breaking the school record in the 5,000-meter that had stood for 45 years while setting the top time in NCAA DII this season in the process.

QUOTABLE:   

• "Breaking a 45-year-old school record speaks for itself, that is an amazing accomplishment for Bryan Banuelos. We've had a lot of talented runners here for decades and no one could ever do the work it takes to break that 5k record until now. He earned it all summer, all fall, all winter, and now has a very exciting track season that will continue to unfold because of his consistent commitment in a very challenging discipline. Our women's speed program was really on display today, and they shined. The two relay times are now leading the outdoor performance lists, and those marks really show the depth of talent we are blessed to have, and that Coach Foster is maximizing." - head coach Ray Winter 

HOW IT HAPPENED:  

• Banuelos' time of 14:32.21 set a new school record in the men's 5,000m run in an early-season effort that also puts him atop the nation's DII outdoor rankings in the event. The previous school record was held by Jim Hartig and was set in 1976.
• Patrick Kiprop also had a solid performance in the same event, running 14:58.61 to put him 7th on FPU's all-time list.
• Cullin Bates was a double winner, taking the top spot in both the 110m (14.77) and 400m (55.64) hurdles. Today's times rank him first and 6th, respectively, in the outdoor performance list for DII.
• Moe Bradley took the top spot in discus with a toss of 146'3".
• Isaac Davis had a breakthrough performance in the triple jump, going 46'0.5' for the first time.
• Bjoern Adden won the long jump for the third meet in a row with a season-best 22'9.25".
• Madison Flores, Kyla Richardson, Kyra Bailey and Chloe Sharp won the 4x100m relay in a DII national-leading 46.50 and worked their way into fourth all-time for FPU.
• Flores was strong in the 100m dash (12.13) that moves her to 4th in that event on the DII performance list.
• The Blue and Orange took the first four spots in the 400m, led by Sharp in 56.34 and followed by Danae Manibog (56.63), Mikaela Smith (57.17), and Bailey. These four women are now ranked 4th, 5th, 6th and 10th respectively on the national outdoor performance list for DII.
• Richardson made her season debut in the 200m dash, finishing 3rd in the race in 25.02 while joining Flores among the top 6 outdoor times. It also got her onto the 200m all-time list at FPU (10th).
• Manibog, Smith, Sharp and Bailey set a now nation-leading time in the 4x400m relay of 3:48.78.

 
UP NEXT:  

• Next up for FPU is the Spring Break Invitational next Saturday, March 13 at FPU Track. Teams that will be competing include Cal Poly, Santa Clara, Academy of Art, St. Mary's, CSU Bakersfield, and William Jessup.

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