May Track Update

A three-peat is rare in the sports world, but the Hartnell College men's track and field team accomplished the feat Saturday adding to its previous 31 Coast Conference titles. The 2009 championship makes it six out of eight since 2000. Amassing 201 points to defeat DeAnza College at 155 points, the Panthers had a scoring individual or relay team in every event.

Sophomore Cesar Puga added to his conference hammer crown on Saturday by winning both the shot put and discus throw. Puga's mark of 51'02.25" was a personal best. Antonio Leal was the conference leader at 800 meters; Leal beat a talented field posting a winning mark of 1:56.84. Daniel Tapia won the 5000 meters in 15:30.18 and took second in the 1500 meters in 3:59.02. That mark moves him into the top 10 all-time in school history. Derrick Toney was second in the high jump at 6'6". Hector Aleman was third in the 3k steeplechase in 10:01.92 with Cameron McFadden also pickinp up a bronze medal in the 110HH in a season best 15.41.

Individuals scoring points toward the title: Hector Aleman (3k steeplechase, 5k, 10k), Joe Castro (3k steeplechase, 10k), 4x100 relay team of Isaias Valdez, Kenny Guereque, Wendells Sells, and Prentice Dervin, Manuel Esparza (1500, 10k), Luis Corvera (3k steeplechase), Cameron McFadeen (110HH), Michael Grayson (110HH, 400H), Benny Lopez (400), Shane Truett (400), Isaias Valdez (100), David Atiz (400H), Wendells Sells (200, LJ), 4x400 relay team of Antonio Leal, Shane Truett, Richie Garban, and Benny Lopez, Frank Herrera (Discus), Ian Quiros (Shot Put), Daniel Jimenez (Hammer), Jorge Muniz (Javelin), Mariano Puga (Discus, Hammer), Andrew Asuncsion (Triple Jump, High Jump) , Colby Williams (Pole Vault), Derrick Toney (High Jump, Pole Vault), Jordan Bournes (High Jump), Harold Winfield (High Jump), and Salvador Coronado (Triple Jump).

The women maintained a hold on the third place spot in conference for the second consecutive year as sprint powerhouse Laney College and upstart DeAnza bested the lady Panthers. The highest placing individuals were sophomores Dominga Arzate in the 5000 meter run and Jazmin Suarez in the 3k steeplechase. Both placed third. Arzate stopped the clock in 20:11.29 which added to her personal best 5:12.28 in the 1500 for fifth. Suarez finished in 12:26.49 in the steeplechase. Super frosh Treya Winfield scored two big personal bests despite competing in six events on Saturday. Winfield was timed in 59.73 for the 400 meters and 26.17 for 200 meters. Her time in the 400 meters was an improvement of almost a full second over her previous best.

Scoring valuable team points for the women were Liliana Villagomez (100H), Jazmin Suarez (3k steeplechase, 400H, 10k), Leticia Saldana (800), Amparo Olivo (800), Melissa Sandoval (100), Treya Winfield (High Jump, Triple Jump, Long Jump, 200, 400), Kimiyo Jones (Triple Jump), Brittney Medina (Hammer, Discus), Hazel Gapol (Hammer, Discus), 4x100 relay of Melissa Sandoval, Treya Winfield, Liliana Villagomez, and Cyril Pascua, and the 4x400 relay team of Sandoval, Winfield, Villagomez, and Leticia Saldana.

Next up for the Panthers is the Northern California Trials to be contested Friday at Diablo Valley College.

Christopher Zepeda