Esqueda Pushes Panthers to Fourth in Norcal

Hartnell College distance ace Ricky Esqueda scored in three events while winning the Northern California 10,000 meters title to push the Panthers to a fourth place team finish. He was also the runner-up in the 5000 meters and fourth in the 1500 meters. His 23 points accounted for almost half the Panthers 64.5 points. Hartnell College was just 14.5 points from third place Modesto Junior College who tallied 79 points. Sophomore Williams Ordaz added 11 points with Adam Alnazer contributing 9 points. From the events 800 meters and up, 53 points were totaled.

In addition to Esqueda's top overall finish in the 10,000 meters and second place in the 5,000 meters, Adam Alnazer took bronze in the 800 meters and Williams Ordaz the same in the 5,000 meters. Freshman Kyle Henn achieved the State "B" mark in the pole vault to take a surprise third place. Jonathan Saldana was fifth in the 3000 meter steeplechase along with Nick Merillana in the 10,000 meters. Rex Tomimbang picked up 2 points in the 110 meter High Hurdles. Merillana and Christian Aldape added a pair of eighth place finishes in the 1500 meters and 3000 meter steeplechase. Frosh Jack Fling was also eighth in his first pole vault final.

Panthers advanced to the CCCAA State Championship having achieved the State automatic qualifying mark include Rick Esqueda and Williams Ordaz in the 10,000 meters, Jack Fling in the Pole Vault, Adam Alnazer in the 800 meters, and Jonathan Saldana in the 3000 meter steeplechase. Those who achieved the "B" mark and will have to await their fate include Fernando Garcia (long jump), Kyle Henn (pole vault), and Rex Tomimbang (110mHH).