Azusa, Calif. — Southwest Baptist University's track and field team sent several distance runners across two time zones to compete in the Bryan Clay Invitational in California. The invitational, which is the largest collegiate track and field meet in the United States with over 4,000 competing athletes, took place at the Cougar Athletics Complex on the campus of Azusa Pacific University.
 
The trip began on Thursday evening as the Duchscherer brothers ran in the steeplechase. Gavin Duchscherer took 61st place with a time of 9:13.21, not quite topping his mark earlier in the season. His brother Landon Duscherer finished in 83rd with a time of 9:29.00. 
 
Friday morning, the ladies took to the track for the 5k posting some incredible times. Senior Olivia Littleton started the day out with a 4th place finish out of 108 with a time of 16:57.96. That time also broke a nine-year SBU school record, so Olivia now holds the 5k and 10k SBU records. Sophomore Natalie Gerdes was not far behind her teammate in 9th place with a time of 17:04.28. Her fellow GLVC cross-country freshman of the year Gracie Troester came in 26th with a time of 17:12.18
 
On Saturday morning, the brothers competed in the 1500 meter run. Gavin finished 18th with a time of 3:54.80 and Landon finished 133rd with a 4:05.47 run. The women followed suit in the 1500 meter run with two more top 10 finishes. Littleton took 4th place with a time of 4:37.25 and Gerdes fell in just behind her at 6th running 4:38.18. Freshman Troester ran a time of 4:42.65 good enough for 22nd place out of 136.
 
The rest of SBU's men's track and field team spent their weekend competing at Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo. Find a recap of their meet here, and visit sbubearcats.com for all news on SBU Athletics.