Three Pepperdine track athletes鈥擫izzy Crawford, Elijah Gentry, and Parker Buchheit鈥攈ave made their mark in the NCAA Division I West Region rankings following the Stanford Invitational. Each athlete achieved new program records in their events: Crawford in the 10K, Gentry in the 3000m steeplechase, and Buchheit in the 800m. Their impressive performances positioned them strongly for potential qualification for the NCAA Championships' First Round. Head coach Lauren Floris praised their success against elite competition, highlighting the team's continual improvement in the season.

By the Numbers
  • Parker Buchheit won his heat in the 800m with a time of 1:49.32, marking him 28th in the West region.
  • Lizzy Crawford set a 10K program record with a time of 33:44.39, positioned her 27th in the region.
  • Elijah Gentry recorded a time of 8:49.70 in the 3000m steeplechase, placing him 27th in the region and under last season's qualification mark of 8:50.81.
State of Play
  • The NCAA West Prelims are scheduled for May 27-30 in Arkansas, creating urgency for athletes to qualify.
  • The Waves face strong competition at the upcoming Pomona-Pitzer Invitational, crucial for maintaining or improving their rankings.
What's Next

Looking ahead, the trio aims to maintain their momentum at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational, with aspirations to join previous qualifiers for the NCAA West Prelims. Continued record-breaking performances could solidify their positions in the national rankings.

Bottom Line

The success of Crawford, Gentry, and Buchheit embodies the upward trajectory of Pepperdine鈥檚 track program, underscoring their potential for national qualification and long-term competitiveness in collegiate athletics.