LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Kaylee Best reset the record books for Vanguard women's track and field Saturday at the Occidental Invitational. The freshman usurped her previous school record in the long jump (19'3 ¼") with a 19'9 ¾" showing as Vanguard's sole champion at the meet. Best nailed the metric on her second go at the sand pit, to net her second individual win in the event this season.

Joining her in the long jump were Kolena Apana and Briana Martin, who were just a few whiskers shy of crossing paths with new personal bests of their own. Apana's second take earned her fourth place with a 17'6 ¼" leap. Martin finished in a tie for seventh (16'8 ¼").

Abigail Wolf was the only Lion featured in the high jump, coming in at 1.35m to tie seventh.

The throwers were also active, led by Aaliyah Espinoza, the overall top finisher with a fourth-place nod (37.69m) in the discus throw. She was followed by Gimena Hurtado and Andrea Espinoza Noriega, who both excelled on their third attempts to wheel in eighth (33.70m) and ninth place (32.61m), respectively.

The trio were also tight finishers in the hammer throw, with Espinoza once again leading the fray (37.16m) in ninth. Hurtado peaked on attempt four to climb out to 36.13m and a 10th-place spot. Noriega pulled in a personal best with a 36.04m heave on her second try.

Hurtado was the only VU thrower competing in shot put for the Lions, sporting a 9.81m launch to finish just outside the top spot in sixth.

Vanguard's runners were primarily in the distance category. In the 1500m, Bella Sword's debut race gave VU a narrow 11th-place finish. The freshman crossed over at 4.51.80. She was followed by fellow Lions Kaitlyn Smith (5:03.12), who took 29th, and Brady Wylie (5:09.48).        
   
The sophomore and freshman pairing of Hailey Quiroz and Zoe Tavares got their feet wet in the 5000m. They were a little over a second apart, with Quiroz setting a personal best (18:43.47), over a minute better than her previous mark. Tavares debuted in the event at 18:44.87.

Four Lions (Emily Noyes, Kaitlyn Barragan, Sydney Sydney, Madyson Nakamura) put their hat in the long-winded 10000m race. Nakamura was three seconds off a new personal best, but claimed a podium spot in third with a 38:30.30 finish. Noyes had a career-best run to take ninth (39:50.20). Barragan clocked in at 41:17.80 to notch13th, with Sydney rounding out the herd in 16th (39:50.58).

In another long distance event, a trio of VU freshman took part in their first-ever steeplechase race, with a payoff of top-10 placements.  Chase Sullivan (12:21.95) led the trio in fourth, with Adrianna Huffstuttler (12:35.52, seventh) and Macey Thomas (12:53.58, ninth) not too far behind her in the field of 19 competitors.

What's Next? The Blue and Gold will head to San Diego for the Arnie Robinson Invite on Friday, March 20.