Lopes have showing at last regular season meet

Photo by: Jayden Todd

5/3/2026 11:08:00 AM | Track and Field

GCU breaks multiple school records in one final meet in Tucson

By: Tyler Killgore

TUCSON, Ariz. - Grand Canyon turned in a strong performance Saturday at the Desert Heat Classic, highlighted by personal bests and nationally ranked marks across multiple event groups.

On the track, senior Miguel Rosario led the men's sprint group with a 10.32 in the 100 meters, while junior Dylan Poteat and freshman AJ Robinson posted near-identical times of 21.67 and 21.69, respectively, in the 200 meters.

In the 400-meter senior Ben Stratman delivered one of the top performances of the day with a season-best 46.29, with this time Stratman finished in the top 10.

Graduate Taliyah Booker added a standout effort on the women's side, running a school record 52.77 in the 400 meters.

The Lopes also turned in a strong showing in the relays, with the women's 4x100 team placing second with a season-best 43.90 ranking among the top times in Division I this season. Senior Hannah Smith, sophomore Nina Thevenin, sophomore Cassie Small, and Booker earned the school record, breaking their previous record from this year.

The men's 4x100 relay consisting of senior Jacob Holguin, senior Conner Kittleson, graduate Justin Raines, and Rosario added a 39.95 performance finishing 6th in the race against top competition.

The Lopes were especially strong in the middle-distance events. Senior Germain Lemaitre clocked a personal-best 1:47.17 in the 800 while also breaking the school record once again this year.

Graduate Jagger Zlotoff ran 3:48.93 in the 1,500 finishing second in the event while sophomore Grace Scott added a personal-best 4:44.97 in the women's 1,500.

Freshman Isabella Velazquez posted a personal-best 10:53.41 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

In the field events, Grand Canyon saw strong marks across the board. Sophomore Blake Heller recorded a 7.48m (24 feet 6.5 inches) mark in the long jump, while senior Jacob Nash led the javelin group with a 58.75m (192 feet 9 inches) throw.

Freshman Ryan Willey posted a notable 49.85m (163 feet 6 inches) in the hammer throw, and freshman Juliana Garcia added solid performances in both the discus and hammer. In the vertical events, junior Eva Lowder cleared 4.16m (13 feet 7.75 inches) in the pole vault.

With this meet wrapping up the season, GCU looks ahead to the Mountain West Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Fresno, California where the Lopes look to defend their running streak of conference titles.