There's something to be said for simply being there, at a venue like this, at a school with this level of name recognition, in front of more than 600 fans.
Maybe such a thought descended on The Master's University track and field team as they congregated in the bleachers at UCLA's Drake Stadium ahead of the Bob Larsen Distance Carnival on Friday.
If so, the feeling was of a fleeting nature. The Mustangs weren't content just to be part of a meet that included NCAA Division 1 athletes.
That's why in the third lap of her 1,500-meter race, Arianna Ghiorso pulled ahead of the pack.
Coach Zach Schroeder had stressed to the freshman not to settle in behind anyone on the third time around because she could be sure they were slowing down, too. When the moment arrived, Ghiorso could feel the pace wane.
"I knew I had to take the lead and try and hold it," she said.
Ghiorso accomplished her goal, but the exertion made an almost impossible task of closing well over the final 400 meters. She ultimately finished eighth, behind runners from UCLA, UC Riverside and UC Irvine, in a new lifetime best of 4 minutes, 40.06 seconds.
It marked the second time this season she hit the "B" qualifying standard for NAIA nationals in the event.
"Coach told me to go into the race and compete to win," Ghiorso said. "That didn't happen, but I gave myself the best shot at it."
TMU's Stephen Pacheco also recorded a new lifetime best, his in the 5,000 meters. His time of 14:47.71 was the fourth fastest in program history.
Throughout the evening, Pacheco soaked up the atmosphere.
"I enjoyed the huge stadium, as well as a nice track and running against high-level athletes," he said.
For freshman Davis Boggess, the night served as his college debut in the 5K. He made the most of it, crushing his high school best time with a mark of 15:49.14.
Elsewhere, Justin Harris was hoping to hit an NAIA qualifying standard in the 3,000 steeplechase. He was one of the fastest seeds in his heat and took the lead from the gun in order to maintain a qualifying pace.
Harris led the entire race until the final 400 meters. He finished second and missed the cut by roughly 14 seconds, but Schroeder remained optimistic for the reigning Golden State Athletic Conference steeplechase champion.
"It's very difficult to run an effort like that alone at the front with no competition to help you," Schroeder said. "He ended up running just a second off his lifetime best. I'm confident a similar effort with better competition could produce a qualifying mark for Justin."
The Mustangs will next compete on April 6 at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational in Claremont, California.
