A warmer than usual spring break Saturday in Southern California
Freshman Gabriela Cardenas used her first Occidental experience to run the twelfth fastest 5000 meters in Hartnell history.
A warmer than usual spring break Saturday in Southern California unfortunately did not help the Panthers secure important State "A" or State "B" marks in the distance events. The annual trip to the Occidental Spring Break Distance Carnival was not all a loss as two top regional marks were produced by sophomore Julian Vargas and freshman Gabriela Cardenas.
Freshman Gabriela Cardenas used her first Occidental experience to run the twelfth fastest 5000 meters in Hartnell history. Cardenas ran 19:09 for her first track 5000 meters in the fall at the Kyle Robinson Twilight but on Saturday evening, she lowered that personal best to 18:14.44. That mark moves her into the top spot in Northern California by two seconds over the fall champion Ericka Dorn of College of San Mateo. Cardenas has yet to decide on her signature event and will debut in the 3k steeplechase soon. Freshman Angelina Tran did use the trip south to run the full 3k steeplechase distance. Tran won her heat in 12:21.62 which would have placed third overall among the two heats. The Anzar grad's mark is the twelfth fastest in program history and second in Northern California. She also easily met the State "A" mark and will just need to place in the top 6 overall come May 1-2 at the Northern California Championship to advance to her first ever 3C2A State Championship. Freshman Deisy Gracia Gabriel was next fastest for the women in 19:35.05 in her debut. Crystal Madrigal debuted at 1500 meters in 5:07.17.
The Panthers will kick off spring break with the CSM Bulldog Invitational at College of San Mateo on Friday, March 20. Field events start at 10:00am and running 11:00am.