SUNNYVALE, Cali. - UNLV showcased some of their best times of the season on Saturday morning as they traveled west to compete in the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational. Hosted by Santa Clara University, the Rebels finished on a 22:03.88 average time for 17th overall at Badlands Regional Park.
Natalia Ruiz continued her dominant junior season with another top-three finish at the Bronco Invitational, running a 19:56.2 time for second place overall in the field of 187 finishers. That time bested her race from two weeks ago by almost 48 seconds, marking the second time she's ran a sub-20 minute 6k race and the second-fastest time in program history.
UNLV featured six different student-athletes in the meet that earned personal-best times, averaging 35-second improvements across those competitors. Isabella Schrader crossed the finish line at 75th overall in the event with a 21:51.9 time, that personal-best mark being made by 36 seconds. Abigail Danlang dropped 43 seconds from her previous best time with her finish of 22:34, the sophomore now has hit personal bests in both the 5k and 6k. LaKyla Yazzie took her first 6k race of the year on Saturday, the senior dropped a nine-second best time to finish in 22:39.3.
Alana Sangprasit featured the biggest time-drop out of all the Rebels competing, the freshman dropping 95 seconds from her race just two weeks ago to finish the 6k race on a 23:18 final time. Nicole Boskovich topped her best time from the Bronco Invitational last season by eight seconds, crossing the finish line in a time of 23:35.0. Aine McDade showcased the last personal-best time for UNLV, her 19-second improvement pushing her time down to 24:40.7 in the event.
UNLV also featured pink jerseys for the race, the first time in program history the Rebels have worn that color on their uniforms. The team wore the unique jerseys on Saturday in honor of loved ones who have or are fighting against breast cancer for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
The Rebels are under new leadership with track & field/cross country head coach Carmelita Jeter and cross country assistant coach Adam Meyer, both in their first season at UNLV.
NEXT FOR THE REBELS: With the regular-season closed, UNLV will now look to the postseason for the next two weeks with the Mountain West Championships next on their schedule. The Rebels will travel north to Eagle, Idaho, and race at the Eagle Island State Park, racing in the 6k championship on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. PT.
