O’Brien, Krchova Set New School Records in 800 & 1,500
4/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
FOLLOW THE DONS – FACEBOOK | TWITTER
FOLLOW USF TRACK & FIELD – FACEBOOK
BERKELEY, Calif. — Ashley O'Brien and Eva Krchova set new school records on Saturday afternoon at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational held at Cal.
The Dons have set 10 new school records this spring.
Krchova beat USF's existing record in the 1,500 by more than six seconds after running a blazing 4:20.43. Her time was the ninth fastest in the Western Region this season. It was a personal best for her by more than seven seconds. The sophomore also holds the school record in the mile, 3,000 meters and 3,000 meter steeplechase.
Teammates Sophie Curl and Nicole Bowler also ran faster times than the previous school record of 4:26.72, which was set by Bowler during the 2009 season. Curl finished the race in 4:24.67 and Bowler crossed the line in 4:24.89, giving the Dons the 34th and 37th fastest times in the region.
"I could not be more happy with how well all three women ran today," USF coach Helen Lehman-Winters said. "Eva led the race by the 800 meter mark and it was a solo effort for her the whole way. With just 500 meters remaining, they were 1-2-3, but the rest of the field ran down Sophie and Nicole a little at the end. They did a nice job working together."
O'Brien set a new school mark in the 800, replacing Krchova's 2:11.02 from last season with a 2:09.44. The senior was in fifth at the halfway point, but moved up well to finish third to run the 55th fastest time in the region.
"I knew she was capable of doing it — it was just matter of getting into right race," Lehman-Winters said. "She's a tough competitor and I think she can run even faster in the next couple of races at Stanford and the West Coast Conference meet."
All four runners have a great chance at qualifying for the NCAA Western Regionals on May 26-28 in Eugene, Ore.
Women's 800
3 Ashley O'Brien (San Francisco), 2:09.44
Women's 1,500
1 Eva Krchova (San Francisco), 4:20.43
4 Sophie Curl (San Francisco), 4:24.67
5 Nicole Bowler (San Francisco), 4:24.89
