GCU Athletes Shatter 4 School Records at One Meet

Grand Canyon University athletes turned the Bryan Clay Invitational into a record-breaking showcase, shattering four school records while competing against some of the nation's top track and field talent in Azusa, California.

Graduate student Taryn Burkett led the charge with a massive triple jump of 44 feet, demolishing her own two-week-old record by over a foot. Her leap now ranks fifth nationally and first in both her conference and region, marking her as a serious contender heading into championship season.

Junior Eva Lowder soared over the bar at 14 feet, 3 inches in the pole vault, breaking a three-year-old school record and securing the top spot in the Mountain West Conference. Her clearance places her 17th nationally and continues her rise through the collegiate ranks.

On the track, senior Germain Lemaitre clocked 1 minute, 47.2 seconds in the 800 meters, improving his own school mark and finishing second overall in a loaded field. Graduate hurdler Maria Sartin rounded out the record setters with a 59.33-second performance in the 400-meter hurdles, shaving three-tenths off her previous best.

The meet saw breakthrough performances beyond the record books too. Sophomore Francisco Marques won the 110-meter hurdles in 13.78 seconds, ranking second in his conference and 19th in the region.

Why This Inspires

These athletes show what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Breaking one school record at a meet is remarkable, but four athletes reaching new heights on the same weekend speaks to a team culture that pushes everyone to be their best. Burkett's improvement of over a foot in just two weeks shows she's peaking at exactly the right time.

The timing matters too. With conference championships just weeks away, these performances send a clear message to their competition while building momentum when it counts most.

Grand Canyon now heads into their final regular season meet with multiple athletes ranked among the nation's elite, proof that dedication and teamwork can transform individual talent into collective excellence.