McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- The George Fox Track and Field team had its first outdoor meet of the season at Linfield University for the Erik Anderson Memorial Icebreaker Invitational, with several Bruins setting career marks.

Top Performances
The Bruins got their first podium placements of the day in the men's 1500 meters. Caden Hildenbrand finished second with a time of 4:03.14, with Gavin Humphreys barely behind him with a personal best of 4:03.16. Both men finished a full three seconds ahead of fourth place. The men's 400 meters also included two podium finishes and a personal best. Blake Smith got first with 49.76, and Caleb Smith got second with his personal best of 50.30. 

Janice Hellesto was the first to place in the top three on the women's side, coming in third in the 100 meters, with 12.70. For the men, Carson Tapia got first with a time of 10.96. Tapia placed first again in the 200 meters, 22:14. Rafael Rodriguez followed up in second with a personal best of 22.29. 

Caleb Doddington placed third in the 800-meter with a 1:55.24. In the women's 5k, Marcella Leita placed third with a time of 19:22.91. Andrew Dewar got second for the men's race, 15:16.25, and Benjamin Bourne got third, 15:23.16.

To end the meet, the women's 4x400 relay consisting of Madison Fuller, Daisy Hernandez, Elizabeth Lamb, and Karys Gates placed second with 4:11.61. 

For the field, Evan Roberts got second in the women's hammer throw with 156-06 — a mark that was good for fourth in program history — while Candice Mugo-Wainaina had the seventh-best throw in program history with a mark of 150-04. For pole vault, Angela Hawkins came in second, vaulting 11-03.00. 

Moving to the jumps, Hellesto took first in the long jump was an impressive mark in her first ever attempt, recording a 18-10.75, a mark that is tied second all-time with GFU Hall of Famer Emily (Davison) Wyatt., Makaylah Johnson was right behind her with a personal best of 
18-04.25, also good for a spot on the all-time record books in 10th place.. On the men's side, Caleb Smith finished second with a 22-00.75. For the triple jump, Kristian Carrington also got second, with 13.72m. 

Mugo-Wainaina placed again in discus, with a personal best of 127-04, a mark that was ninth all-time. 

What Comes Next
The Bruins' Emily Foote, who is currently No. 21 in the nation in the 3000m, will hope for a scratch to qualify for the NCAA Indoor National Championships in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14.

On March 14, the Bruins will also host the outdoor Rich Allen Classic at Stoffer Stadium, beginning at 10:00 am.