Gilleland wins Steeplechase, Coyotes set school records and personal-bests

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Lake Tahoe Community College men's and women's track & field teams put together historic performances in the first outdoor competition of the young season during the Beaver Invitational hosted by American River College.

Freshman Elijah Gilleland, running his first-ever 3000m steeplechase, ran away from the pack and finished nearly 13 seconds ahead of his closest competitor with a time of 10:19.24. Gilleland, who was competing in his hometown, now holds the fastest time in the NorCal Region and is second overall in the state.

Sophomore Joel Nord also made his debut in the 3000m steeplechase and finished third overall (10:41.44). Nord ranks fourth in NorCal and sixth in the state.

Shanaya Tolby competed for the first time on an outdoor track and set personal bests in the 1500m (5:56) and 800m (2:49).

Four runners in the men's 1500m opened their seasons with PRs: Kyle Oltmanns (4:13.06), Ben Cook-Appel (4:13.60), David Khoury (4:48.64), and Kenneth Walden (5:05.10).

The 1500m crew then doubled back for the 800m, with Cook-Appel posting 2:02.30, Oltmanns running 2:09.25, Khoury registering 2:12.14, and Walden finishing in 2:25.27.

The men's team finished the day with a school record in the 4x400m relay, as Gilleland, Nord, Oltmanns, and Cook-Appel combined to run 3:44.77.

Next up for the Coyotes is March 14's Oxy Distance Carnival hosted by Occidental College.

LTCC Results

Men

800m: 8. Ben Cook-Appel (2:02.30), 18. Kyle Oltmanns (2:09.25), 24. David Khoury (2:12.14), 38. Kenneth Walden (2:25.27)

1500m: 7. Kyle Oltmanns (4:13.06), 8. Ben Cook-Appel (4:13.60), 22. David Khoury (4:48.64), 25. Kenneth Walden (5:05.10)

3000m Steeplechase: 1. Elijah Gilleland (10:19.24), 3. Joel Nord (10:41.44)

4x400m Relay: 7. Elijah Gilleland, Joel Nord, Kyle Oltmanns, Ben Cook-Appel (3:44.77)

Women

800m 16. Shanaya Tolby 2:49.67

1500m 14. Shanaya Tolby 5:56.55