Men Push for Coast Conference with Last Chance Meets

Two last chance meets in 72 hours proved to beneficial to the Hartnell track and field team as several athletes improved their end-of-seaon qualfiying marks before the Coast Conference Championships. The Panthers hit the road twice heading to the College of San Mateo on Thursday for the CSM Last Chance Meet and then again on Saturday at Yuba College for the Yuba Last Chance Meet.

On Thursday, sophomore Leslie Oseguera shaved nearly five seconds off her 800 meter time in placing second  (2:25.91). Her time jumps her up into the top 8 in Northern California where she now finds herself ranked in the top 8 in the 800 meters, 1500 meters, and 5000 meters. Freshman Monica Ruelas improved her season best in the 800 meters (2:33.44) and 1500 meters (5:07.21) and was followed by an improving Olivia Jimenez (5:10.82) who also notched a lifetime best for the metric mile. For the men, Nick Merillana (4:07.45) and Williams Ordaz (4:07.48) lead the Panthers in the 1500 meters.

Saturday found the Panthers in the North State in Marysville for the first in school history. Sophomore Haley Romero found the warm temperatures and aiding breezes to her liking as she ran 15.40 in the 100 hurdles to dip under the State "B" mark. She also tied the Norcal lead in the long jump with a lifetime best 18'4.50" jump. On the same runway, Romero also improved on her new event the triple jump to 35'7" which ranks her third in Northern California. Freshman Gerilynn Omictin ran nearly identical trials and finals 100 meter races in 13.05 and 13.06, the latter taking her to the overall victory. Sophomore Sherise Robinson recovered from the Norcal heptathlon in time to run 59.27 in the 400 meters for the win. Freshman distance runner Monica Ruelas improved both her 800 meters (2:32.65) and 1500 meters (5:03.93) in following her teammate Leslie Oseguera who took victory in the 1500 (5:03.50) and 800 (2:30.08). Freshman Nina Arias debuted in the 3000 meter steeplechase in 12:57.31, the seventh best mark in Northern California. Adam Alnazer was an event winner in the 1500 meters (4:06.56), his second best time of the year. Rex Tomimbang ran nearly idential trials (15.40) and finals (15.41) in the 110 meter hurdles. Sophomore Christian Aldape qualified to the Norcal Championship in the 3000 meter steeplechase with his second attempt in the event this season at 10:20.55. Fernando Garcia jumped 21'10.25" to wint he long jump. Freshman Jordan Finister won the triple jump in lifetime best 43'7.25".

The Panthers will compete for the Coast Conference Championship starting on Wednesday, April 25 at Chabot College. Field events will start at 1:30pm and running trials at 3:00pm. Saturday, April 28 field events will start at 11:00am and running finals at 1:00pm.