Mesa, Ariz. - Split between Thursday and Saturday, the Lady Firestorm competed in the Cody McBride Invitational and continued to progress in their trek toward the GSAC Championships. Arizona Christian established 10 season bests/personal records and saw three top-10 performances in program history when all was said and done. Besides the host Thunderbirds, ACU lined up against Pima Community College, Glendale Community College, and others. 

Freshman Mirdege Lentz stole the show, breaking the school record for long jump with a 5.20-meter leap and reeling off personal-bests in the 100 meters (13.65 seconds) and 200 meters (28.59 seconds). Zoe Davidson was the other sprinter to set a personal record, needing 28.66 seconds for a sixth-place finish in the 200 meters.

Jade Roberts was magnificent in the 400-meter hurdles, establishing a personal record and the second-fastest time in program history (1:10.22).

The 4x100 relay foursome of Jocelyn Odiott, Zoe Davidson, Kourtney Bruner and Jade Roberts broke through a barrier with a season-best time of 51.58 seconds.

It sounds like a broken record, but McKenna Rogers reset her personal best in pole vault for the fourth consecutive meet (3.42 meters) and inched closer to the school record (Natalie Hendrix, 3.65 meters, 2021 season). 

EVENT DETAILS

Cody McBride Invitational (March 14th & 16th)

Location- Mesa, AZ
Start Time- Distance events on Thursday evening (Paradise Valley Community College), remaining on Saturday (Mesa Community College)

Full Team Results: https://results.wingfootfinish.com/meets/31377/teams/788028 

RESULTS

100 Meters

• Mirdege Lentz- 13.65 sec (PR, 2nd/4)
• Zoe Davidson- 14.01 sec (4th)

200 Meters

• Jocelyn Odiott- 28.11 sec (4th/10)
• Mirdege Lentz- 28.59 sec (PR and 5th)
• Zoe Davidson- 28.66 sec (PR and 6th)
• Adalien Santa Maria- 29.95 sec (9th)
• Crystal Kerson- 30.80 sec (10th)

800 Meters

• Adalien Santa Maria- 2:44.85 (6th/8)
• Madeline Davis- 2:45.34 (7th)
• Katalina Robinson- 2:58.07 (PR and 8th)

1500 Meters

• Madeline Davis- 5:38.89 (7th/11)
• Holley Nichols- 6:06.42 (11th)

3000-Meter Steeplechase

• Kaesha Guillaume- 12:40.37 (1st/1)

10,000 Meters

• Allena Fugatt- 42.06.49 (4th/5)

100-Meter Hurdles

• Kourtney Bruner- 18.44 sec (5th/5)

400-Meter Hurdles 

• Jade Roberts- 1:10.22 sec (PR, 3rd/4, 2nd all-time for ACU women)

4x100 Relay

• ACU- 51.58 sec (SB, 2nd/2; Jocelyn Odiott, Zoe Davidson, Kourtney Bruner, Jade Roberts)

High Jump

• Rachel Ply- 1.48 m (3rd/3)

Long Jump

• Mirdege Lentz- 5.20 m (PR, 3rd/6, 1st all-time for ACU women)
• Jocelyn Odiott- 4.91 m (PR, 4th)
• Katalina Robinson- 4.45 m (6th)

Triple Jump

• Kourtney Bruner- 9.87 m (3rd/3)

Pole Vault

• McKenna Rogers- 3.42 m (PR, 2nd/6, and 2nd all-time for ACU women)

Javelin Throw

• Rachel Ply- 26.87 m (PR, 8th/8)

THOUGHTS FROM COACH BRIAN BELL

"It was a great day for both the women's and men's programs," Coach Bell said. "Several athletes had either season best or personal best all-time marks and times. Our assistant coaches are doing an outstanding job of preparing each student-athlete for competition and today's results are the fruit of everyone's hard work. We are excited to see where everyone will be when we get to the GSAC Track & Field Championships in about five weeks."
 
NEXT UP FOR THE FIRESTORM

The Lady Firestorm have one week off before heading to San Diego, California for their penultimate meet before the conference championships. San Diego Mesa College hosts the Arnie Robinson Invite on Friday, March 29th. Keep up with ACU Women's Track and Field this 2024 season by following @acufirestorm on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and check out @firestorm_xctf on Instagram for additional content.


Roll Storm!