The ISU track and field team finished the Stanford Invitational on Saturday, March 30, 2013, highlighted by senior Betsy Saina’s record-breaking performance in the 5,000-meter run.

Saina finished second in the race but broke the ISU outdoor record for the 5,000-meter run with a time of 15:12.05. Saina’s time places her fourth all-time by collegiate runners in that event.

“I was really excited heading into outdoors and show what I can do after my disappointing finish indoors and prove that I can put up good times,” Saina said.

Saina’s time is the second fastest time in the world this year only behind the winner of the race, Alisha Williams, who ran for BRC/Adidas.

With her time, Saina made the 2013 World Championships “A” standard of 15:18, which means she can compete in August’s world meet in Moscow if she is selected to run for her native country, Kenya.

“Getting the ‘A’ standard gives me confidence to do the same in the 10,000 meters,” Saina said in a news release.

Following Saina’s disappointing finish to the indoor season, during which she finished second in the 5k and fourth in the 3k at nationals, Saturday offered a positive start to the outdoor season.

“Betsy bounced back and ran like she was ready to compete,” Ihmels said in a news release. “She ran with confidence, and getting that ‘A’ standard was a major goal for this part of the season.”

Lisa Uhl, a former NCAA champ for Iowa State and current assistant coach under Ihmels, also competed at the Stanford Invitational. Uhl held the previous ISU 5,000-meter run record with a time of 15:17.76.

Running for Nike, Uhl finished fifth with a time of 15:29.84. Senior Meghan Nelson set a new personal best in the same race with a time of 15:51.63, good for 15th place.

In the 10,000-meter run, senior Samantha Bluske finished with a time of 34:16.40, good enough for second place. Junior Katy Moen placed 16th (35:17.00).

In the field events, senior Anna Holtermann placed second in the javelin throw with a distance of 91-10.00. In the hammer throw, junior Hali Bozarth placed eighth with a distance of 181-01.00, followed by senior Laishema Hampton, who placed 10th (175-05.00) and senior Danielle Frere at 13th (168-11.00).

On the men’s side, senior Falko Zauber placed fourth in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 3:49.59. Senior Rico Loy placed 13th in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 13:50.12 while placing 10th in the high jump with a height of 6-07.00.