Hartnell College sophomore
Diego Leon
helped the Panthers to a fifth place team finish at the Northern California Track
& Field Championships hosted by American River College. Diego tallied 28 out of the
65 total team points scored by the Panthers. Leon was victorious last week at College
of San Mateo in the 10,000 meter run final with a time of 31:14.83. On Friday, he
added the 1500 meter title in a new lifetime personal best 3:52.34. The mark is the
best produced by a Norcal runner and third best in the state. To cap his final regional
championship for Hartnell, Leon came up just short of winning a third title falling
to fellow state cross country champion Luis Luna of host American River College 14:40.85
to 14:43.30. The pair finished more than 100 meters in front of the rest of the field.
Leon, a former Anzar High School standout, is one of several athletes in consideration
for Northern California Athlete of the Year. Also contributing to the team's fifth
place finish were
Dustin Samms
,
Justin Carrancho
,
Marcus Washington
,
Chase Pacheco
,
Frankie Gutierrez
, and
Nathan Bishop
. Freshman Dustin Samms placed third in the hammer throw with a toss of 173'1". Carrancho
placed fourth overall in the 5000 meter run in 15:21.00. Marcus Washington was a surprise
fifth in the long jump at 22'11.25". Pacheco tied his season best in the high jump
good enough for sixth with 6'3.50". Gutierrez grabbed sixth in the javelin with a
toss of 166'11". Bishop cleared 13'10.50" also to take sixth.
For the Lady Panthers,
Rachel Shimabukuro
was the highest placing competitor narrowly missing a regional title in the 3000
meter 
steeplechase. Her time of 11:28.96 was 0.02 away from the win but was a personal best
by 14 seconds and improves on her second best mark in Hartnell history in the event.
Frosh
Nancy Rodriguez
took third in the event with a personal best 11:57.67 and will be the top regional
returnee next spring. Fellow freshman
Cynthia Tovar
took fifth in a personal best 12:37.23. Frosh
Malena Grover
placed fourth to medal in the 5000 meter run (18:40.36) along with placing seventh
in the 15000 meters (4:52.90). Soph
Linda Delgado
placed fifth in the 4000 meters (59.65).
Brandi Hobson
placed fifth in the 5000 meters (19:04.28) and eighth in the 1500 meters (4:59.08).
Maritza Ruelas
and
Taylor Blaha
both placed sixth in their events. Ruelas was timed in 19:18.38 in the 5000 meters
and Blaha jumped 34'5.50" in the triple jump. Tori Teraji was seventh in the pole
vault (9'8.25") along with the 4x100 relay team (50.22). The Lady Panthers were just
3 points from earning a regional team trophy with their total score of 72 points.
The California Community College State Championship will be held Friday and Saturday,
May 15 and 16 at the College of San Mateo.
For full Norcal Championship results: http://www.directathletics.com/results/track/37730.html
Youtube Video of Norcal 1500 Men's Final
Youtube Video of Norcal 5,000m Men's Final