Gonzaga's Rosina Machu breaks school record in the 5000m at Drake Relays...

In Des Moines, Iowa, Gonzaga's Rosina Machu (Paul Merca photo) was the first collegian across the line in the women's seeded section of the 5000 meters as the main portion of the famed Drake Relays opened at Jim Duncan Track at Drake Stadium Thursday night.

Machu led the field through the first 4000 meters before Bethany Hasz of the Boston Athletic Association pulled away to win in 15:34.19.

Amy Davis (15:37.09) and Anne-Marie Blaney (15:39.46) of the Hansons-Brooks ODP finished in second and third before Machu crossed the line in 15:41.46.

For Machu, who was an All-American in cross country last fall, it's an outdoor personal best by almost 20 seconds, but just short of her all time best of 15:37.05 set last December at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston.

In the unseeded section of the men's 5000, Nick Braz (14:21.68) finished sixth, and Mason Kissell was 19th in 14:52.77.

Gonzaga returns to action Friday at Drake with both men's and women's teams in the 4 x 1600 relay. In addition, Spokane native Katie Thronson is entered in the women's invitational 3000m steeplechase.

Results of the Drake Relays are available here.

In Philadelphia, Washington's Haley Herberg and Julia David-Smith both ducked under 16 minutes in the 5000 meters on the opening day of the Penn Relays at Franklin Field.

Herberg ran 15:58.49, while David-Smith finished in 15:59.01 to finish eighth and ninth, respectively.

In separate sections of the 5000, the Huskies' India Weir ran a 16:18.16 time and Josephine Welin came through in 16:45.36. Ella Borsheim ran 16:48.30, and Saskia Lloyd ran 17:01.34.

Anna Terrell ran 60.90 in her section of the 400 hurdles.

The Huskies return to action Friday at the Penn Relays in the distance medley relay.

Results of the Penn Relays are available here.

NOTE: The Penn Relays, Drake Relays, and the sports information offices of Gonzaga and Washington contributed to this report.

paulmerca.blogspot.com may receive a commission for any purchases made from links clicked. Please support this site and our sponsors by clicking on the links. You can also support the site by clicking the yellow "Buy Me A Coffee" link below.