Panthers Handle Rain at Albiani

Under windy and rainy conditions, the Hartnell track and field team managed to put up some solid marks at the Jack Albiani Invitational hosted by Modesto Junior College.

Freshman Matt Battaglia remained undefeated at 800 meters for the fourth straight race winning his heat in 1:57.32. Hawaiian transplants David Atiz and Broc Bangloy both placed second in their events. Atiz (16.66) in the 110 High Hurdles and Bangloy (1:00.36) in the 400 hurdles. Robert Anderson placed second the 5000 meter run (16:38). Prentice Dervin was third in the 100 meter dash at 11.32. Manuel Esparza (4:14.5) and Rigo Vasquez (4:14.6) recorded Norcal meet qualifying times in the 1500 meter run.

Freshman Clarissa Hernandez is new to the sport of track and field but is quickly moving up the performance lists in the hammer throw. Hernandez had a throw of 123-01 making her the third best in school history and ranked second in conference. The women's 4x400 relay team of Cyril Pascua, Leticia Saldana, Emily Scettrini, and Sused Cabrera recorded the win in 4:25. Cabrera also took over the conference lead at 1500 meters with her time of 5:12.06. She was followed next in by teammate Mayra Garcia at 5:13.00. Garcia was the highest placing Panther in the 800 meter run with a new lifetime best 2:29.69. Cabrera and Garcia have qualifying marks in three events the 800, 1500, and 5000 meters. Also sneaking under the Norcal mark in events were Emily Scettrini (5:28.2) in the 1500 meters and Cyril Pascua (13.68) in the 100 meters.

The Hartnell track & field team will go north to Hayward and compete at the Chabot Fix It Meet on Friday, March 19th.

Panthers Keep Stride With Unversities in Turlock‏

Competing for the first time ever at CSU Stanislaus in the Kim Duyst Invitational, the Hartnell College track and field teams demonstrated they can keep pace with four year colleges and universities. CSU Stanislaus will serve as host of the 2011 NCAA Division 2 Outdoor Track and Field Championships after a multi-million dollar facelift to its track and field facility. The Panthers competed against teams from the host school, Chico State, Cal Poly Pomona, San Francisco State, William Jessup University, Academy of Art, Santa Clara University, along with several Northern California community colleges.

Sused Cabrera continued to prove she is one of Norcal's finest distance women winning her section of the 5000 meter run in 19:17.69. Despite being just a freshman, her time is good for the seventh best in school history and moves her into third currently in the region. Mayra Garcia (20:05) and Stephanie Casto (21:05) also performed well at the distance. Kristen Gebin lowered her season best in the 100 meter dash to 13.52 with Leticia Saldana (2:32.8) and Emily Scettrini (2:36.4) showing improvement at 800 meters. Former Alisal High School standout Alba Roland, fresh off a Hartnell basketball season, produced a team leading 33-03.00 shot put. Also making her debut was Kayla Hanson at 30-10.25. Clarissa Hernandez continued to improve in the hammer throw with a mark of 110-04 moving her to seventh best in school history. Lauren McCallon also broke the 100 foot barrier in the hammer throw with a toss of 105-08.00.

For the men, former Salinas High School Cowboy Derrick Toney lead the charge with a lifetime best 21-11.75 in the long jump and equally impressive 6-6.00 in the high jump. He was almost matched by teammate Will Welch who leaped to a mark of 21-08.25 and cleared 6-0.00. Freshman Matt Battaglia took over the Norcal leader position in the 800 meter run. He was Hartnell's highest placing individual taking third overall amongst all competitors. Battaglia's time of 1:56.04 moves him also on to the school's all-time list in fifteenth. Robert Anderson won his heat of the 1500 in 4:18.92 and followed that with a season best 1:59.22 in the 800 meter run. Benny Lopez lowered his 400 meter time to 50.59, with Rigo Vasquez (15:41.92) and Manuel Esparza (16:07.00) running solidly over 5000 meters. Ian Quiros and Daniel Jimenez were tops in the throwing events. Quiros improved to 41-03.00 with the 16 lb shot put and Jimenez at 140-11.00 in the hammer throw.

In preparation for April's Big Sur Marathon, former Hartnell College standout Daniel Tapia won the 5000 meter run by over 10 seconds in a new personal best 14:38.22.

Panthers Dominate Lobo Invite

With just two others teams in attendance in Monterey Peninsula College, San Jose City, College, the Hartnell College track and field teams were able to demonstrate their full arsenal of power at the MPC Lobo Invite. All counted, the Panther men and women won 8 events on each side.

Those winning their events were the men's 4x100 relay team (43.88), Seth Barnes 400 meters (53.32), Prentice Dervin 100 meters (11.11), Matt Battaglia 800 meters (1:58.77), Mike Skinner (56.34) in the 400 hurldles, Rigo Vasquez (16:33.51) for the 5000 meters, Will Welch long jump (19-02.00), Donte Mosley triple jump (42-04.00), and Derrick Toney in the pole vault (11-06.00). The Panthers swept the top three spots in the three events (pole vault, triple jump, and 800 meters).

For the ladies, the 4x100 relay team (52.88), Cyril Pascua 100 hurdles (17.88), Jackie Frias over 400 meters (1:10.68), Sused Cabrera 800 meters (2:31.60), Angelica Banuelos 400 hurdles (1:16.49), Mayra Garcia 5000 meters (21:14.39), Lauren McCallon shot put (32-02.00),and Krysta Keema discus (85-09.50) were all event winners. Panther women took all the three podium spots in the 800 meters, 5000 meters, and 100 hurdles.

The Panthers will compete next on March 6 at the Kim Duyst Invitational hosted by four year university Cal State Stanislaus.

Panthers Open Season at Coast Preview

The 2010 track and field season has begun. The Hartnell College track ventured north to San Jose City College to compete at the Coast Conference Preview meet. The meet also accomodated Central Valley Conference schools Fresno City College and Merced College.

Freshman Sused Cabrera was the Panthers only event winner with her 3000 meter run win in 11:10.68. Her time is the tenth best performance in school history. She was followed by Mayra Garcia in 11:48.09 also an all-time performance. Panthers who took runner-up honors in events were Derrick Toney in the high jump (6-04) ,Matt Battaglia at 800 meters (2:00.32) and the men's 4x400 relay team comprised of Byron Oliver, Matt Battaglia, David Atiz, and Benny Lopez (3:23.86). Third place finishers were Rigoberto Vasquez in the 3000 meter run (9:04.56), Lauren McCallon in the hammer throw (97-0), Will Welch in the 100 meters (11.36), and the 4x100 relay team of Welch, Oliver, Lopez, and Battaglia (43.21).

Other marks that qualified to the Northern California Trials in May: Angelica Banuelos for 100 hurdles (17.81) and 400 hurdles (1:16.04), Cyril Pascua also both hurdles (17.44 and 1:13.06), Kristin Gebin 100 meters (13.84), Mike Skinner (56.99) and David Atiz (57.20) in the 400 hurdles, Byron Oliver in the 400 meters (50.43), and Andrew Asuncion in the triple jump (41-11.50). The Panthers will be compete next on February 27th at the MPC Lobo Invitational.

CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

COLLEGE OF SAN MATEO - MAY 15-16, 2009

Sophomore Daniel Tapia spent the entire season ranked as the top runner in the state in both the 5000 and 10,000 meter runs for community college athletes. Over the weekend at the state championships at the College of San Mateo, Tapia upheld those rankings bringing two individual state championships back to Hartnell College. On Friday, Tapia,along with teammate Hector Aleman, toed the line for the 10,000 meter run. In a tacticial affair, Tapia saved his best running for last pulling away from Matt Sartori of San Bernadino Valley College to win in 31:23.04. Aleman would place higher than he was ranked earning a state medal in eighth and his time of 33:18 was the second fastest amongst Norcal finishers to just Tapia's time. On Saturday, Tapia completed the double win despite almost 100 degree weather at race time. This time he beat out Muluken Beressa of San Diego Mesa College. At the cross country championships, it was Beressa that reeled in Tapia to win the state championship relegating the Panther to runner-up. Tapia's time of 15:10.96 gave him a comfortable win by 10 seconds. Tapia's double state championship is the first since Brian Wilkinson won both the 800 and 1500 meter runs for legendary coach Gary Shaw in 1995. Teammate Manuel Esparza placed 6th in 16:11 outlasting the faster Southern California counterparts. Esparza was also the second best Norcal placer only to Tapia. Esparza also competed in the 1500 final placing eleventh in a 4:07.55.

The men's 4x100 relay team of Isaias Valdez, Kenny Guereque, Wendells Sells, and Prentice Dervin have enjoyed a dream-like rise to the top in the last couple of weeks. The state championship continued that trend as the foursome nabbed a sixth place team finish at 41.66 despite being ranked eigthth prior to the race. The team finishes the 2009 season as the third fastest in school history.

Cesar Puga finished his Hartnell career with a third place finish in the discus and seventh place in the shot put. Puga leaves Hartnell as a two-time All-American in the discus. He is currently being recruited by UC Davis and CSU Northridge.

As a men's team, the Panthers placed seventh and third for Northern California schools.

Freshman Treya Winfield was on pace to set a significant personal best in the heptathlon but experienced a disappointing no mark forthe javelin. Winfield still managed to place 10th just a few points off her score from the Norcal heptathlon championships. Winfield set personal bests in five of the seven events. Her time of 26.03 in the 200 meters moved the freshman to eighth fastest all-time at Hartnell. With another year of competition, the school record of 25.25 set by Felciia Brown in 1994 may be in jeopardy.

Freshman Melissa Sandoval placed ninth in the pole vault clearing 2.70 meters. Sophomore Dominga Arzate placed 10th in the
5000 meter run.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS

DIABLO VALLEY COLLEGE - MAY 8, 2009

Watch the Men's 4x100 relay team qualifiy to the state championships with a time of 41.63!!!



The 2009 Nor Cal Championships was much like a an afternoon soap opera for the Hartnell track and field team with highs and lows and an ending that leads to anticipation for next week's state championships.

In what was probably the biggest surprise of the day, the men's 4x100 relay team of Isaias Valdez, Kenny Guereque, Wendell Sells, and Prentice Dervin left the rest of the field and Coast Champion De Anza College asking themselves "what just happened?" When the dust settled, the Panthers had placed 3rd despite being the final team qualified out of the trials competition. Their time of 41.63 was a huge improvement from their previous best 42.15 and moved to the team on to the state championship. Of historical note, the team's time moved them to third fastest in school history replacing the 1982 team featuring current team member Wendell Sells father. Sophomore Cesar Puga lived up to his Norcal #1 ranking in the discus winning his first title with a toss of 164'09". Puga was also second in the shot put. Daniel Tapia and Manuel Esparza both placed in scoring positions in the 1500 meters. Tapia (3:59.3) was 4th and Esparza (4:02.7) at 7th. Esparza, the freshman from North Monterey Co., will take Tapia's spot at the state meet with the elder focusing on the 5,000 and 10,000 meter runs. Hector Aleman placed 7th in the 3000 meter steeplechase (10:03). Sophomore Antonio Leal experienced the meet's biggest heartbreaking moment as he ran most of the final portion of the 800 meter race in the final qualifying spot only to be overtaken just strides from the finish line. His time of 1:56.70 placed him 5th. In the men's 5000 meter run, Daniel Tapia put in a solid last mile to easily outpace the field winning his second Norcal title this meet. His time of 15:15 outdistanced second place by almost 10 seconds. In a shocker, Manuel Esparza outlasted all but two other runners in the field to grab the third place podium spot. His time of 15:31 was a personal best by 14 seconds and earned him two races at next week's state meet. The men's 4x400 relay team of Isias Valdez, Shane Truett, Richie Garban, and Antonio Leal placed sixth in a season best 3:21.47. The team had almost not been able to run if they had not been voted in by the jury of appeals after a dropped baton the previous week. Chase Knisely picked up two team points placed seventh in the javelin with a season best 162'0". Receiving special recognition was sophomore Daniel Tapia, He was named Co-Norcal Track Athlete of the Meet with Jacob Enemark of Diablo Valley and Kianti Gix of American River College. As a team, the Panther placed fourth behind American River, Sacramento City, and City College of San Francisco.

For the ladies, Melissa Sandoval earned a chance to pole vault next week after she cleared the opening height and placed sixth. The 4x100 relay team of Sandoval, Treya Winfield, Liliana Villagomez, and Cyril Pascua finished sixth in a time of 50.80. Winfield also placed eighth in the triple jump. Sophomore Dominga Arzate ran a calculated 5000 meter race that saw her move steadily up through the field and into third place with just one lap to go. But Arzate just could not hold off the runners she had so perfectly reeled in over two plus miles and ended up sixth. Arzate's placing earned her a second berth to the state championship after qualifying last week in the 10,000 meter run. She will focus solely on the 5000 meters next week. As a team, the women placed fourteenth and doubled last year's point total with 18 in 2009.

Those competing in this week's state championship at the College of San Mateo: Daniel Tapia (5k, 10k), Manuel Esparza (1500, 5k), Hector Aleman (10k), Cesar Puga (shot put, discus), 4x100 relay team of Isaias Valdez, Kenny Guereque, Wendells Sells, and Prentice Dervin, Melissa Sandoval (pole vault), Treya Winfield (heptathlon), and Dominga Arzate (5k).

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA T&F TRIALS

DIABLO VALLEY COLLEGE - MAY 1, 2009

An unexpected May rain storm swept through California the day of the Northern California Track and Field Trials held at Diablo Valley College. There were just a few casualties for the Hartnell crew due to the wet conditions. Some Panthers found the rain to be helpful and used it to their advantage and qualified to the Norcal Finals competition.

The day started with the Chase Knisely competing in his second regional trials competition in the javelin. He was joined by teammate Jorge Muniz. Knisely found the slick runway much more to his liking than Muniz as he squeezed into this week's final by throwing 150'6". Muniz missed the last qualifying spot by just a little over foot with his 142'1". In a shocker, Cesar Puga just could not slow down enough in the wet ring to get a qualifying mark in the hammer throw. A bright spot was freshman Daniel Jimenez setting a personal best despite the rain with a toss of 137'1". Puga would return later to throw a new personal record and move to #3 all-time in school history in the shot put with his 51'8.50" toss in the rain. Puga also safely qualified in the discus after his earlier frustration with the hammer throw.

On the track, the women's 4x100 relay team of Melissa Sandoval, Treya Winfield, Liliana Villagomez, and Cyril Pascua made the final after posting an all-time list making 50.56 in the semi's. The men's relay team was Isaias Valdez, Kenny Guereque, Wendell Sells, and Prentice Dervin were equally impressive taking the final qualifying spot with a season best 42.15. Winfield stepped back on to the track later in the day to move to #8 all-time in the 400 meters with her new best 59.37. She would also qualify to the finals in the triple jump. Daniel Tapia and Jose Esparza both advanced to the 1500 meter final with Esparza posting a lifetime best 4:05.02. In the women's 10,000 meter run, sophomore Dominga Arzate picked up what is hopefully one of two state qualifying spots as she methodically reeled in the top six women and managed to place 5th. Her time of 41:45 was a best by one minute. Arzate has come a long way considering she did not qualify for any post-conference competition in any event last season. Daniel Tapia ran away with the men's 10,000 meter final for the second year in a row. He splashed his way to a time of 31:32. Teammate Hector Aleman held on gamely for 5th earning a state spot with a time of 32:53. The most dramatic event of the day was the men's 4x400 relay. Shane Truett, running as second leg, had the baton punched from his hand and on to the track. Despite having to return to get it and losing substantial ground to the entire field, the Panthers were able to battle back to catch one team. After filing a protest, the Panthers were granted the opportunity to compete in the final based on the circumstances and the team's previous performances.

The Hartnell track team will send approximately 20 athletes to the Norcal Finals. The men's team is currently placed 2nd in the team battle based on the points accumulated from the multi-event championship and 10,000 meter final. The women are 5th after those two events.