NORWALK, Calif. – A school record time in the 3,000 meter steeplechase headlined the first two days of competition at the Mt. SAC Relays, held at Cerritos College Falcon Stadium.

In his first outdoor spin around the track, Ryan Driscoll smashed the school-best steeplechase mark, finishing in 8:56.77. The time is the first sub-nine minute mark in school history, breaking the previous record of 9:02.03 set by Jesus Romo at the Mt. SAC Relays four years ago, on April 20, 2012.

Driscoll now owns the school records in two events (3,000 m and 3,000 m SC). Also competing in the elite division of the discipline Mohamed Aziz narrowly missed the previous record time himself, closing with a time of 9:02.61 to take 27th.

In Friday evening's 5,000 meter race, Edward Shepherd finished off the evening of competition with a 5,000 meter time of 14:23.39, good for third in his heat and less than three seconds away from the heat winner Alex Riba of Texas A&M. A junior from Sawbridgeworth, England, it was the first 5,000 meter race of Shepherd's NCAA career.

Early in the day, Hugh Nicklason ran a solid 800 meter time of 1:51.01 to take 14th overall and fourth in his heat. Nicklason now has the top three spots of the season in the 800, after capturing the school record in the event at Stanford two weeks ago.

On the women's side, Ferederique LaTraverse also saw her first action outdoors, and turned in a 34:59.57 10,000 meters to finish ninth. La Traverse, a sophomore from Quebec, Canada, edged out Ericka Hibser of Northern Illinois and Northern State's Sasha Hovind by less than half a second to earn her spot ninth position. In the 1,500 meters, Weronika Pyzik finished as the Dons top competitor, earning fourth in her heat with a time of 4:32.09.

A contingent of Dons continue the weekend of racing tomorrow, competing at the Beach Invitational and Woody Wilson Classic on Saturday.
 
Thursday's Results:
10,000 m (M) – Open B
31. Quentin Purtzer – 32:22.69
 
10,000 m (W) – Open A
9. Frederique LaTraverse – 34:59.57
22. Isabelle Brauer – 35:37.63
29. Kelsey Nielsen – 36:01.29
 
10,000 m (W) – Open B
17. Ashley Moffett – 36:31.31
 
Friday's Results:
800 m (M)
14. Hugh Nicklason – 1:51.01
 
800 m (W)
47. Emma Stahr – 2:16.28
 
1,500 m (M)
34. Alex Short – 3:54.62
38. Jarrett Moore – 3:56.15
42. Cristian Monsalud – 3:58.22
 
1,500 m (W)
36. Weronika Pyzik – 4:32.09
37. Kate Jamboretz – 4:32.56
41. Daryl Phill – 4:33.45
 
5,000 m (M)
29. Edward Shepherd – 14:23.39
 
3,000 m SC Elite (M)
16. Ryan Driscoll – 8:56.77
27. Mohamed Aziz – 9:02.61