Spartans Distance Squad Completes Successful Opening Weekend at Raleigh Relays

RALEIGH, N.C. – Michigan State track & field’s distance squad completed its first meet of the outdoor season at the Raleigh Relays Saturday afternoon. The Spartans set a number of personal bests over the three-day meet at NC State’s Paul Derr Track Facility. 

“We had a solid start at Raleigh Relays,” said MSU Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Lisa Breznau. “Our goal continues to be focusing on the process by covering our details. Competing at this meet gives us the opportunity to hit the ground running. I’m looking forward to us carrying this momentum forward.” 

DAY 1 

The Spartans kicked off the weekend with the men’s 1500m, led by graduate student John Petruno’s seventh-place finish in 3:41.62. Petruno competed in the top section of the 15-section race that featured several professional runners and NCAA All-Americans.  

Junior Owen Huard was the second Spartan finisher in the race, finishing 54th overall with a time of 3:48.19. Junior Alexander Penski and senior Jeremy Kloss both set personal bests in the race, running 3:49.30 and 3:49.50, respectively. Junior Luke Perelli clocked 3:52.95. 

Junior Andrew Lane was MSU’s lone entrant in the men’s 5000m Friday night, narrowly missing a personal best in 14:16.70. 

A pair of Spartans competed in the women’s 10,000m on Friday night. Graduate student Grace Molloy finished in eighth place with a time of 35:01.82, while junior Emily Bardwell set a personal best of 35:14.24 to finish first in her section and 12th overall. 

DAY 2 

MSU began the second day of competition in the women’s 1500m. Fifth-year senior Katie Osika ran a personal best of 4:15.94 to finish eighth and as the Spartans’ top performer in the event. Senior Lauren Freeland ran 4:18.05 to place 12th, while senior Judith Rector ran a personal best of 4:30.01. Senior Alison Ziehl was the third Spartan to set a personal best in the event on Saturday, clocking 4:32.07. Sophomores Sophia Lucki and Olivia Millen ran 4:32.27 and 4:35.89, respectively. 

Sophomore Kate Stewart-Barnett continued the string of personal bests on the women’s side for MSU in the 3000m steeplechase, running a personal best of 10:07.07 to place fourth. 

After not competing during the 2023 indoor season, sophomore standout Kaitlyn Hynes made her return to the track in the 5000m Friday night. Hynes ran…