During its final tune-up for the indoor Big Sky Championships, the Sacramento State men?s track and field team raced to a second-place finish at The Holiday Inn Classic in Reno, Nev.

Behind a stellar performance by sophomore Stephen Gaitan, the men?s team outlegged the likes of University of California, Berkeley and Causeway rival University of California, Davis.

Sac State?s men?s team finished just seven points behind the University of California, Riverside, 63-56. The women, on the other hand, tallied just 13.50 points.

All points aside, Hornet head coach Joe Neff is just happy Sac State continued to qualify for the Big Sky Championships.

“We have a lot of bright spots on the team. I?m really looking forward to it,” Neff said.

Junior Shawna Peterman vaulted her way into the championships, clearing the established height in the pole vault. Peterman?s indoor success comes just a year after she failed to qualify for the championships.

“I?m very excited to be going. This is my first indoor championship. I think it?s going to be a lot of fun,” Peterman said.

Gaitan, in the meantime, will have to keep a lid on his excitement. Gaitan is still waiting to hear if he qualified for the championships, even after running through the tape at 50.7 seconds during the 400-meter dash.

Despite waiting in limbo, Gaitan is overly impressed with the team?s showing at The Holiday Inn Classic and during the entire indoor season.

“We?re off to a good start,” said Gaitan, who normally runs the 800 during outdoor season. “So far the season is going well.”

Without an indoor training facility, the Hornets have enjoyed their share of struggles this season. Having experienced the trials of learning on the run, Neff believes his team will be stronger for it.

“This season has been a big learning experience for us,” said Neff, who believes both the men?s and women?s could place within the top five at championships. “Everyone is quick to learn and we are more superior this year than last year.”

The Big Sky Championships will begin Friday in Pocatello, Ark. And, if the Hornets qualify, the NCAA Indoor Championships are scheduled for March. The outdoor season is slated to begin during March.