The Michigan Tech 4x800m relay team of Grace Folkema, Brielle Kero, Ingrid Seagren and Sam Shaver shattered the previous school record of 9:41.84 set in 2006 by over 20 seconds, winning the event in a time of 9:21.53 Saturday in Joliet, Illinois, as the USF Fighting Chance Invite. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

JOLIET, Ill. — The Michigan Tech track and field teams reset both 4x800m relay school records at the USF Fighting Chance Invite on Friday afternoon. In total, the Black and Gold also saw nine personal-bests in the regular season finale.

“Friday night could not have been a better opportunity for racing,” said Huskies assistant coach Luke Moore. “We had clear skies, good temperatures, and low wind. We were grateful for the opportunity to race one last time.”

Friday – USF Fighting Chance Invite

The final chance weekend opened with the Huskies’ 4x800m relays amassing new program records, with the women’s 4x800m team of Grace Folkema, Brielle Kero, Ingrid Seagren and Sam Shaver shattering the previous record of 9:41.84 set in 2006 by over 20 seconds, winning the event in a time of 9:21.53.

The men’s 4x800m relay team followed up with a school record performance of their own with the squad of Brandon Latta, Donavan Mattson, Lucas Seng and Austin Smelker marking the first team in program history to dip under 8 minutes with a time of 7:55.92 securing sixth-place in the race–resetting the decade-old record of 8:02.58.

“Both our women’s and men’s teams broke the 4x800m school records today,” Moore said. “We have had our eyes on those school records for many years now, but have never had the opportunity to go get them since the 4×800 is not an official NCAA distance. We were really happy with the opportunity to break those school records.”

Veteran Tucker Ringhand, the men’s 10,000m GLIAC Champion and 5,000m school record holder, ran his second 10,000m in eight days and took runner-up honors in a new personal-record time of 30:18.84.

The steeplechase frontrunners for the Huskies both ran notable races as Callen Carrier took fourth-place in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase, running 9:20.86 for a new personal-best. Claire Endres neared her personal-record set a week prior at the GLIAC Championships, clocking an 11:14.12 effort for 13th in the field.

Ethan Hoff also recorded a lifetime best in the 3,000m steeplechase, with his time of 10:22.28 being a five second personal-best for 13th-place in his section.

Seagren, fresh off a leg of the 4x800m school record relay, returned to the track for her specialty event and ran a new personal-best time of 4:52.97, moving up four spots in the final 800m.

The men’s 1,500m duo of Connor Stefanovsky and Mattson reached new personal-bests taking second and third-place, respectively in the third section. Stefanovsky went 3:56.15 with a 1:00.6 last lap, while Mattson was close behind in 3:56.25 with a 1:01.1 final 400m.

“Stefanovsky and Mattson had great 1,500m races today as well,” said Moore. “They raced really tactically and dropped PRs. It was a great step forward for both of them and I am excited to have Donnie’s career as a Husky end on a good note.”

The second section of the men’s 5,000m proved to be a good one for Finnian Stringer and Seng, marking their debut at the distance. Stringer took fifth in the race with a time of 15:19, marking the fifth-fastest for the Huskies this season. Seng, doubling back from a leg of the 4x800m school record relay, was close behind in eighth-place with a time of 15:23.19.

Ingrid Halverson enjoyed a personal-best in the first section of the women’s 5,000m, lowering her personal-best by almost 12 seconds, claiming 12th in 18:36.52.

Cedar Gordon also came away with a new personal-best over 5,000m as she went 17:32.01 in the invitational section, lowering her personal-record by over seven seconds.

“Cedar showed up yesterday in a dazzling fashion,” Moore said. “She managed to take another chunk off of her 5k PR after a season that was already very stout. I am really proud of her and I’m sure she is happy with the way her career has concluded.”

Alisa Teige reset her 10,000m personal-record, running over 28 seconds faster than her personal-best performance at this meet a season ago, claiming 16th overall in 40:27.54.

Saturday – USF Fighting Chance Invite

Austin Smelker, returning from the 4x800m relay that broke the school record, made his debut in the 1,500m, clocking 4:10.70 to take 10th in the open section.