From Brandeis University Athletics
On two beautiful days for track and field, the Brandeis Women's Track and Field team capitalized on the nice weather and put together some great performances at the 2018 Silfen Invitational hosted by Connecticut College.
The meet is broken up into two separate days; an elite distance night on Friday, followed by the sprints and unseeded distance sections on the second day. The Judge distance runners set the stage on Friday with a series of impressive races highlighted by junior Emily Bryson's (Quincy, Mass./North Quincy) season debut and win in the 1500m. Bryson easy dispatched the field beating her next closest competitor by almost two full seconds when she stopped the clock at 4:37.57.
Bryson's run was not the only notable performance from Friday night two Judges also put up quality 5000-meter runs. In the women's 5000 meters sophomore Danielle Bertaux (Prides Crossing, Mass./ Beverly) recorded a huge 42-second personal best to place third overall. This was a huge breakthrough for Bertaux as it marks the first time she has ever gone under 18 minutes for 5k.
The women's 4x400 matched the men, placing 3rd as well with an ECAC qualifying mark. The quartet consisted of sophomore Kayla Fahey (Kingston, Mass./Silver Lake Reg.), freshmen Lisbeth Valdez (Providence, R.I./Hope), as well as, juniors Maya Sands-Bliss (Williamsburg, Mass./Amherst Reg.)and Doyin Ogundiran (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East). The four combined for a time of 4:06.35. Also, like the members of the men's relays, some of the women also came up big in their individual events. Fahey and Valdez both recorded top ten finishes individually, with Fahey placing sixth in the long jump with a leap of 4.76m (15'7.5") and Valdez placing 5th in the 400m completing the one lap circuit in 60.23 seconds. Leinni Valdez (Providence, R.I./Hope) also placed top ten in the 400m recording a time of 61.62 for 10th.