SAN MARCOS, Texas – Freshman ARLO GONZALES led the St. Edward's Men's Track & Field in a week of season and personal bests at the Bobcat Invitational hosted by Texas State, as the Hilltoppers fought through back-to-back weeks of competition. 
 
Gonzales continues a stellar first year across the cross country, indoor track, and outdoor seasons, clocking a St. Ed's season-best 32:34.40 to place third in the event. His time is the fastest in modern program history by a freshman, seventh at SEU all-time, and the second-best in the LSC this season. 
 
Fellow freshman MELECIO ORTIZ had a memorable collegiate 10K debut, placing seventh at 34:05.71, the sixth-fastest in the LSC. 
 
"I thought Arlo ran a smart 10K this week. He's got more in the tank, but it was good for him to get his first one under his belt," St. Edward's Head Track & Field Coach Steven Cary says. "Willie and Javier also had some good performances in the 1500." 
 
WILLIE ODEM paced the mid-distance runners in the 800 and 1500. Odem and JAVIER TILLERO broke two minutes in the 800, with Tillero the first of three consecutive Hilltoppers to set personal bests at 1:59.49. JOSIAH GUAJARDO and BRADEN COX also clocked new personal standards at 2:02.53 and 2:03.73. 
 
Odem set a personal and season best in the 1,500 at 4:02.71, the seven-best time in the LSC. Tillero also set a new personal record of 4:09.86. 
 
ANDRE MOORE led St. Edward's sprinters in the 100, placing 28th at 11.24. CRISTIAN MENDOZA and GEORGE SHELTON finished back-to-back at 11.57 and 11.65. ISAAC KIM set a new personal record in the 110-meter hurdles at 15.42. 
 
"This was a tough weekend for our guys. We had some strong performances, but overall, we're pretty banged up," Cary explains. "It was good to see them persevere and finish this tough back-to-back stretch at Texas State." 
 
St. Edward's will continue its outdoor season at the Carl Kight Invitational, which Stephen F. Austin will host on April 11 and 12 in Nacogdoches, Texas.