McCarthy Shatters School Record in Men's 800-Meter

Aidan McCarthy, 800, Conover Classic, 03-24-23

Photo by: Maddie Harrell

McCarthy Shatters School Record in Men's 800-Meter

4/14/2023 10:00:00 PM | Track and Field

AZUSA, Calif. — Redshirt sophomore Aidan McCarthy (pictured above) shattered a 53-year-old school record and sophomore Maya Holman recorded a top-10 point total in program history in the heptathlon Friday to highlight an impressive second day at the Bryan Clay Invitational for the Cal Poly track and field program.

In the men's 800-meter invite, McCarthy turned on the jets, winning the fourth heat and finishing fifth overall in a field of 135 runners with a time of 1:47.24, breaking Mathyas Michael's school record (1:47.44, 1970). McCarthy's time is currently the fourth-fastest in Division I this season and the best in the Big West.

McCarthy now owns the program record in two events (800, indoor mile). Last year, the Pleasanton, Calif. native won the conference title in the 800 and was just 0.08 seconds away from qualifying for the NCAA Championships in Eugene, running the second-fastest time in school history (1:48.00) at the NCAA West Preliminaries.

Holman capped off an impressive showing at the Bryan Clay Invitational on Friday, capturing first in her section of the heptathlon with a lifetime-best point total of 4,847 — good for No. 10 on Cal Poly's all-time list.

The sophomore led after the first day of the heptathlon Thursday, and she added to her advantage on the final day winning the long jump and securing first in the javelin with a personal best of 135 feet, 7 inches. On Thursday, she also recorded personal bests in the high jump and 200. Last year, Holman placed sixth at the Big West Multi-Event Championships as a freshman.

In the women's 800 invite at Bryan Clay, Misty Diaz (2:09.58) and Cassidy Hubert (2:12.33) both ran season bests, and Diaz placed first in heat 12.

Schuyler Gooley nearly entered Cal Poly's top marks list in the women's 5,000-meter Friday night, running a lifetime best of 16:29.47, just 0.69 seconds away from No. 10 in school history. Freshman Tatiana Cornejo also posted a personal best in the event (16:41.58).

Cal Poly also opened competition at the two-day Beach Invitational on Friday. Sophomore Ellie Baxter won the women's 5,000-meter (17:26.94), while Anna Grexton (161-6) and Devon Cetti (188-7) both tossed season bests in the hammer throw.

The rest of the Mustangs taking part in the Beach Invitational will be in action Saturday, starting at 9:30 a.m. A handful of the team's top distance runners will also compete during the final day of the Bryan Clay Invitational.

Cal Poly Results

Beach Invitational Day 1 Results

WOMEN
Hammer — 44, Anna Grexton, 161-6.
5,000 — 1, Ellie Baxter, 17:26.94. 6, Isabel Sanchez, 17:45.61.

MEN
Hammer — 25, Devon Cetti, 188-7. 33, Noah Bultman, 181-0. 36, Corban Payne, 179-9.
Javelin — 20, Kevin Schmitt, 184-10. 26, Nick Gammal, 172-5.

Bryan Clay Invitational Day 2 Results

WOMEN
Heptathlon Group D — 1, Maya Holman, 4,847 points.
800 Invite — 66, Misty Diaz, 2:09.58. 108, Cassidy Hubert, 2:12.33.
800 Open — 50, Riley Cash, 2:14.34.
5,000 Open — Schuyler Gooley, 16:29.47. Tatiana Cornejo, 16:41.58. Amanda Olla, 17:22.45.

MEN
800 Invite — 5, Aidan McCarthy, 1:47.24.
800 Open — 31, Logan Moon, 1:52.93.