Webster track team jumps out to record-breaking start

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The Webster University track and field team’s shouts of victory have become a familiar sound after every competition, as they continue to break records. Thirty-two school records have been broken through five indoor meets and one outdoor meet so far this season.

The young team looks to be on the rise.  They have broken a school record at every meet so far this season. On March 22, the team competed in the first outdoor meet of the season in Memphis, Tenn., at the Rhodes Invitational. The Gorloks broke two more school records during the event, and earned  two first place finishes.

Sophomore David Lambus placed first out of 42 runners in the 800-meter dash at a time of 1:56.42. Freshman Lauren McClain set a new Webster record and a personal best in the women’s shot-put, as she finished first out of 39 throwers with a throw of 11.76 meters.

“I beat my personal record, and that’s my goal at every meet,” McClain said about her first place finish.

Junior Jenny Howard continued her record breaking season. She finished second out of 38 runners in the 100-meter dash, with a time of 12.46 seconds. Howard then came back and set a new school record and personal best in the 200-meter with a time of 25.39 seconds, finishing third out of 49 runners.

“My 200-meter time really surprised me this weekend. It was definitely my best race of the weekend,” Howard said about her record-breaking 200-meter race.

On March 1, Webster competed at the Fred Wilt Invitational in Anderson, Ind. The invitational was a breakout performance for the team, and especially for junior Howard.

The Webster team broke 17 school records during the invitational, along with three first- place finishes.  Howard set nine of those 17 school records herself, along with a new field house record.   Howard finished first in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.96 (seconds), and in the process she broke her previous school record of 7.97. The time was the fastest women’s 60-meter dash time recorded at the Kardatzke Wellness Center, where the meet was held.

“I was going for maybe 7.98 or maybe a little less than that but I did a little bit better than I thought,” Howard said.

For the men’s team, sophomore transfer David Lambus finished first out of 29 runners in the 800-meter dash, while he bested his own Webster record with a time of 1:55.20. Lambus has broken a Webster track record at every meet he has competed in this season.

Lambus is a transfer student from St. Louis Community College Meramec, making him new to the Gorloks team this year. His first competition was on Feb. 8 at the second meet of the year, which was held at Illinois College’s Jim Green Invitational. Lambus broke the Webster men’s record in the one mile run at the invitational, and  he finished second in a field of 41, runners with a time of 4:29.26, just 16 seconds behind the leader.

“It’s been really fun so far. I put a lot of work in and have a great coach. I just try to win every race, so if that time breaks a record then that’s great,” Lambus said about his success this season.

Along with Howard and Lambus, two freshmen, Valerie Martin and Lauren McClain, continue to produce for the women’s team. Martin came in first out of 26 runners in the mile run at the Fred Wilt invitational. In the event, she broke Webster’s indoor record with a time of 5:24.15. Along with the first place finish at the Rhodes Invitational, McClain bested her own personal best in the shot-put with a toss of 11.25 meters and placed fourth out of 24 throwers. The Webster men finished eighth out of 13 teams, and the women finished eighth out of 19 teams .

“I’m not too worried about beating all the other competitors. I just want to better myself as much as I can,” McClain said.

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