STANFORD, Calif. --- A week before the start of the Pac-12 Championships in Seattle, the California track & field teams competed locally in the prestigious Payton Jordan Invitational at Stanford Sunday.

The reward for the Golden Bears' final stretch of Pac-12s preparation manifested in the form of five new or updated entries into the Cal All-Time Top 10 list, 11 outdoor personal bests, a new freshman record and five event/section victories, along with other strong performances.

NOT LONELY AT THE TOP

While freshman Kai Benedict's 11th place finish in the 3000 Meter Steeplechase may not have been the most impressive within the context of yesterday's meet, it may well end up have the longest run of significance in Berkeley.

Benedict ran the 3000 in 8:55.30, which set a new personal best, earned him the No. 10 position on Cal's all-time list, and topped a Cal Freshman record that stood for over 30 years (8:58.91, Steve Valen, 1983).

In addtion, four others - Peter Simon (Shot Put / 63-4.00 / 4th), Ilse Kaaja (Hammer / 200-4.00 / 4th), Georgia Bell (1500 Meters /4:18.89 / 6th), and Marissa WIlliams (5000 Meters / 16:19.35 / 10th) secured or improved their standing amongst Cal's all-time greats.

FULL RESULTS (WITH OUTDOOR PRs)

Men's

100 Meters: 2. Khalfani Muhammad (10.50)
200 Meters: 2. Khalfani Muhammad (21.12)
400 Meters: 7. Ben Greenwald (49.37)
800 Meters: 1. Josh Lewis (1:49.91; won Section 6 ***)
5000 Meters: 12. Chris Walden (14:29.06 ***); 13. Trent Brendel (14:36.26)
110 Meter Hurdles: 2. Marsalis Gibson (14.33 ***); 5. Tyler Brendel (14.89)
400 Meter Hurdles: 1. Connor Meech (52.30 ***); 3. Jonte Turner (52.82)
3000 Meter Steeplechase: 11. Kai Benedict (8:55.30 ***)
Pole Vault: Tyler Brendel/Luciano Lopez (NH)
Shot Put: 1. Peter Simon (63-4.00 / 19.30m ***); 2. Sullivan Parker (58-4.50 / 17.79m); 4. Malik McMorris (53-1.50 / 16.19m)
Discus: 1. Aaron Russell (174-11.00 / 53.31m); 2. Ethan Cochran (169-1.00 / 51.55m); 5. Malik McMorris (158-10.00 / 48.41m); 6. Marshall Godsil (158-6.00 / 48.32m)
Hammer Throw: 3. Isaac Dan (205-2.00 / 62.53); 10. Aaron Russell (177-11.00); 11. Marshall Godsil (174-10.00 / 53.30m)
Javelin: 9. Andrew Scholnick (182-1.00 / 55.50m)

Women's

100 Meters: 6. Jayla Scholis (11.88)
400 Meters: 14. Jackie Chandler (57.43)
800 Meters: 7. Nuria Tio Peig (2:10.25)
1500 Meters: 4. Georgia Bell (4:18.89 / Section 4 ***); 6. Jordyn Colter (4:24.52 / Section 6 ***); 7. Rebecca Croft (4:24.59 / Section 6 ***); 12. Natalie Herberg (4:28.10 / Section 6 ***)
5000 Meters: 1. Marissa Williams (16:19.35); 6. Mariel Mendoza (16:49.46); Sydney Gray (DNF)
100 Meter Hurdles: 5. Morgan Robertson (14.23)
400 Meter Hurdles: 2. Schantell Williams (1:01.20)
3000 Meter Steeplechase: 16. Megan Bordes (10:55.58)
Pole Vault: 5. Lauren Martinez (13-2.25 / 4.02m)
Shot Put: 3. Ginika Iwuchukwu (47-10.00 / 14.58m)
Discus: 5. Kendall Mader (166-5.00 / 50.72m)
Hammer Throw: 2. Ilse Kaaja (200-4.00 / 61.06m ***); 11. Destiny Parker (174-2.00 / 53.10)

*** PR

NCAA WEST REGION

With Pac-12s on the horizon and NCAA Regionals not far behind, a viewing of the current Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) West Region lists show a number of Cal student-athletes highly ranked in several events.

The highest rank for any Bear belongs to sophomore Isabella Marten, who currently sits in fifth place in the region in the triple jump (43-5.00 from the Big Meet on April 9). Peter Simon's Payton Jordan effort puts him in sixth place in the shot put and gives him the highest regional ranking for any Cal male student-athlete.

Overall, there are one top five, five top 10s, 14 top 25s and 33 top 50 performers that reside in Berkeley.

NEXT UP

The Pac-12 Championships begin on May 7-8 with multis competition and resume May 14-15 with its full schedule. More information on the Championships will be posted as it becomes available.