Alnazer and Saldana Shine in Final Home Meet
In its prime the Ed Adams Invitational hosted by Hartnell College was the premier junior college meet on the Central Coast but over the years as two year colleges south out tougher competition from four year university meets, the yearly attendance at this staple meet has dwindled. What hasn't diminished with time is the quality of performances the Panthers continue to produce on their home track in what is usually the final home meet of the season.
The Panther men picked up five provisional marks in the competition. Sophomore Adam Alnazer lead a Panther pack in the 1500 meters with his lifetime best 4:03.50. Teammates Nick Merillana 4:06.17 and Ricky Esqueda 4:06.58 were right behind. Merillana also picked up a provisional qualifier with his lifetime best 1:59.72 in the 800 meter run. Sophomore Jonathan Saldana (8:54.02) lead Equeda (8:56.02) and Merillana (9:00.73) to lifetime bests in Friday's 3000 meter run. Freshman sprinter Justin Robante dipped under the challenging 100 meter dash mark with his lifetime best 11.15.
The Lady Panthers managed to add two new state qualifying "B" marks and improve two previous ones. Sophomore Haley Romero continues to enjoy her first season in the triple jump taking her best mark out to 35'2". Freshman thrower Tyshell Johnson-Hill improved her "B" mark to 38'2.25". Freshman Anesa Vanderlipe qualified in the pole vault with a clearance of 9'6" with fellow freshman Maria Aceves enjoying a qualifying mark in her first 3000 meter steeplechase in 12:28.46. The time makes Aceves the conference leader and ranked fourth in Northern California in her debut. In addition, eleven provisional qualifying marks were posted. Sophomore distance runners Jocelyn Cervantes and Leslie Oseguera enjoyed their finest home competition. Cervantes joined a short list of Panther women to run the 1500 meters in under five minutes with her 4:59.50. Oseguera was right behind in 5:00.02. Cervantes produced the twelfth best 3000 meter run performance in school history on Friday with 10:52.42. It is the only sub 11:00 clocking in the region. Oseguera improved on her 800 meter run time to 2:28.16 to move to second in the conference. Freshman Lauryn Orozco narrowly missed the all-time 1500 meter list but improved to 5:06.58 and in her 3000 meter run (11:09.37). Freshman Monica Ruelas also improved in both 5:10.38 and 11:16.13. Sophomore Olivia Jimenez qualified to run the 1500 meters beyond the conference meet with a season best 5:17.34. In the sprints, Gerilynn Omictin qualified by winning the 100 meters in 13.09. Thrower Idalys Romero rode the ideal Salinas afternoon winds to a lifetime best 110'1" in the discus with Leilani Russell setting a personal best in the javelin at 95'10". Freshman Dakota Peebles lowered her season best in the 400 hurdles (1:11.21) inching closer to the all-time performance list. Sophomore Tanya Campos debuted in the 3000 meter steeplechase in 13:28.03.
The Panthers will travel to the College of San Mateo on Thursday for the CSM Last Chance Meet.