Christopher Zepeda
Head Track and Field Coach
(Middle Distance/ Distance/Cross Country)

Prior to Hartnell College, Coach & spent the last three years as an assistant at Butte College and served as the head coach at Biggs High School. While at Butte College, Coach Zepeda enjoyed a tremendous amount of success in the distance events at the conference, Norcal, and state level. In 2005, Zepeda guided Butte's Oscar Uribe to the cross country individual title. Since 2004, his athletes have won the Norcal 1500, 5k, and 10k titles as well as the men's state 1500 title in 2006. In 2004 and 2005, Coach Z guided a high school athlete to the CIF State Cross Country Championships along with a state berth at 800 meters in 2005.

Zepeda competed at the junior college level and served as team captain while at Cuesta College. He also competed as a member of the Chico State cross country and track & field team. Coach Zepeda earned his B.S. in Exercise Physiology and M.A. in Kinesiology from CSU, Chico. Coach Zepeda is Level I certified by USATF Association. In addition to his coaching duties, Coach Zepeda will also serve as a part-time instructor for the PE Department.

Larry Mankins
(Hammer)

Coach Mankins has been a part of the Hartnell Track and Field program since 1995. He has coached numerous throws athletes that have gotten it done in the classroom, weightroom, and out on the hammer cage.

Larry's background includes strength training for track & field and football athletes. His expertise lies in strength training as well as martial arts. Coach Mankins is a 4th degree blackbelt and a full-time Physical Education instructor.

Mike Ward
(Sprints /Hurdles /Relays)

Coach Ward enters his 8th season with the Panthers. Mike brings with him a rich wealth of knowledge from his background in track and field. Coach Ward is the current Hartnell College school record holder in the 100m (10.40) & 200m (20.87). Ward also earned All-American Division I honors while competing at Fresno State in both relays in 1999-2000.

Coach Young has been working with the throwers at Hartnell College for last 8 years. Prior to that, he coached both football and track at area high schools. Coach Young currently coaches the throwers at Salinas High School. During his long coaching career, Coach Young has been fortunate to guide several athletes to the California community college state track and field championships. Coach Young believes this year's crop of Panther throwers has the potential to earn all-state honors.

Coach Young was first introduced to the shot put and discus events when he was a junior in high school. Guided by his inspirational high school coach, Coach Young earned trips to the California High School state meet as both a junior and senior at Taft High School. A full scholarship to play football at Cal Poly SLO put an end to his short throwing career but Coach Young still finds great satisfaction in sharing his knowledge and expertise with young throwers.

Hartnell College has added Ed Barber as the new sprint and multi-event coach to its track ahd field staff. Ed is a 1978 graduate of Fresno Pacific University in Education. With credentials in elementary, high school, and community college levels, Coach Barber has been teaching for 28 years at the high school level.Now retired from teaching and married for 33 years with two married children, Coach Barber is a proud grandpa.

Coach Barber competed as a decathlete at Fresno Pacific University. He was the District Champion in 1976 & 1977. In his junior and senior years he was anational qualifier in the decathlon placing 7th in 1978. A Level III certified USATF Coach, Coach Barber took Calvin Harrison (44.78) to the Olympic Trials in Atlanta 1996. Calvin went on to earn a gold medal in the 4x400m Relay. In 1993, the North Salinas HighVikings were Co-State Champions under his reign. Coach Barber has had many state qualifiers, and league championships. He now looks forward to working withthe Hartnell coaching staff.

Lyle Weese
(Distance/Steeplechase)

Coach Weese graduated from Montana State University (MSU) in 2003 where hewas a four time All American and three time Big Sky Conference Champion incross country, indoor, and outdoor track. Coach Weese was the team captainfor the first MSU men’s cross country team to qualify for the NCAADivision I championships where the team placed eleventh. This finish isthe highest place by any MSU athletic team in a Division I-A championship.He continued his running career after college and has run in numerousUSATF national championship races in cross country, indoor, and outdoortrack, including the 2004 Olympic Track and Field Trials.

Coach Weese lives with his wife, Sierra, in Marina. He is currentlyworking toward his certified general real estate appraisal license and isemployed by the Appraisal Resource Group in Salinas, CA. Coach Weeseenjoys the team environment of collegiate athletics and will assist withthe distance athletes.

Sierra Weese
(Women's Distance)

Sierra joins the Hartnell coaching ranks as a volunteer assistant for the women’s distance program. Coach Weese graduated from Montana StateUniversity in 2003 where she was a member of the MSU cross country and track teams from 1999 – 2003. In high school, Sierra was a member of the1997 Montana state cross country championship team as well as a two time individual state champion in the 1600m and 3200m in 1999. Sierra and her husband Lyle have been involved in the running community since they moved from Montana in the fall of 2005.

Sierra assists with the Just Run program in local area middle schools. The Just Run program encourages an active lifestyle and healthy choices for elementary and middle school students in Monterey County. Sierra is a certified Level IUSATF Coach and is excited to work with the immense talent the Hartnell athletes show. Sierra currently works for Michael’s Catering in Marina where she is the Director of Event Sales and Planning.