IRVINE, Calif. -The CSU Bakersfield men's and women's track and field teams continued to show improvement as the 2012 season comes down the home stretch as the 'Runners set 13 seasonal-best marks on Saturday and Sunday at the Steve Scott Invitational at UC Irvine.

To lead the men, Karnell Grimes (R-Fr., Rosamond, Calif., Rosamond HS), the former CSUB baseball player who transitioned to become a javelin thrower this year, crushed his pervious season-best mark by almost nine feet with a toss of 172-05 feet to take fifth in the event on Saturday. Richard Maestre (So., Bakersfield, Calif., South HS ) took 11th in the 400 hurdles  with a time of 54.14 seconds, which is over almost 1.8 seconds faster than his previous best mark, Gabe Holland (So., Anchoarage, Alaska, Univ. of Alaska) increased his best mark in the discus by almost 7 feet with a toss of 160-4 to take eighth place and Collin Ellis (R-Jr., Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield HS) also increased his best discus throw by over 7 feet with a 158-05 to place ninth.

Freshman standout Alyssa Page (Santa Rosa, Calif., Montgomery HS) led the women by clocking a 56.80 in the 400 to place 14th. Page trimmed about a second and a half off of her previous best with the mark.

The consistant progress is a good step for the 'Runners, who are getting ready for their first-ever Great West Conference Championship meet, which will be held May 10-12 in Humble, Texas. The 2012 outdoor season is CSUB's first as an affilliate member of the GWC. The 'Runners will compete in one more regular-season meet prior to the GWC meet, in the Occidental College Invitational on May 5 in Los Angeles.

"It was a good meet for us. We had 13 seasonal bests," said CSUB head coach Alan Collatz. "We will take a small group to the Occidental College meet next week and continue to prepare for the Great West Conference Championships."

Sophomore sprinter Jordan Taylor (Palmdale, Calif., William Knight HS), who has posted the fastest times in the GWC this season in the 100-meter dash (10.52) and the 200-meter dash (21.15), placed seventh in the 200 with a 21.54 and eighth in the 100 with a 10.64. Other notable performances came from David Charleston (Sr., Bakersfield, Calif., West HS), who tied for fourth in the high jump by clearing 6-04.75

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