Track & Field Impresses in Season Opener
The Riverside City College men's and women's track & field program kicked off its 2018 campaign Friday by hosting the RCC Invitational that featured Cerritos, Glendora, and San Diego Mesa. Riverside dominated on the men's side by sweeping the competition while the women went 2-1 by defeating San Diego Mesa and Cerritos.
Men
The men dominated competition by sweeping the field. (RCC 133, SD Mesa 22 RCC 131, Glendale 24 RCC 129, Cerritos 26).
The men ran exceptionally well by hauling in a number of first-place marks. Keanon Dennis reigned supreme in the 60M dash with a mark of 6.81 while earning a second-place finish in the 300M with a time of 31.48. Keylan Dennis hauled in the top spot in the 300M with a time of 33.69.
Delton Wood came through with a victory in the 600M by clocking a time of 1:22.17 to defeat his opponent by approximately one second. Dillion Lay and Brian Cervantes finished neck-and-neck in the 60M Hurdles with times of 8.46 and 8.86, respectfully. Both of them joined Anthony Butts on the podium in the 400M Hurdles where Butts earned a first place finish by crossing the line with a time of 56.26.
Carter Baylee reigned supreme in the High Jump after clearing 1.98M for a clean victory. Elijah Steward placed fourth in the event with a mark of 1.78M.
Tyler Harper and Blessing Olawuyl placed consecutively in the Pole Vault with Harper leading the way with a 4.44M mark. Olawuyl finished with a 3.79M clear.
Adam Kasten won a close battle in the Long Jump with a distance of 6.32M – 0.01M better than the second-place finisher. He continued on to place first in the Triple Jump with a 14.59M mark.
The Tigers placed first in all but one throwing event highlighted by sweeping the podium in the Javelin. Olawuyl placed first by earning a mark of 49.01m, while Marcos Gonzalez and Jonathon Garibay followed with distances of 46.31m and 45.69m, respectfully.
Women
The women performed at a high level on Friday by beating a pair of teams in Glendale and San Diego Mesa. (RCC 104, SD Mesa 39 RCC 107, Glendale 30 RCC 72, Cerritos 78)
The Tigers dominated the 60M by sweeping the podium. Tia Parrish placed first with a 7.87 mark, followed by Alondra Gonzalez earning a time of 7.95 and Argnae Myers clocking a time of 7.95.
Maryjane Smith hauled in the gold in the 600M by a large margin with a time of 1:39.53 – nearly 10 seconds better than the second-place finisher. Sarah Holis had an equally as impressive showing in the two mile run by wiping the track with the competition after earning a time of 11:50.30.
Karen Orozco earned the victory in the Pole Vault with a mark of 2.74M and clearing it on her first attempt. Gabriela Sanabria placed second in the Javelin with a mark of 28.38M, while Taylor Salley placed third in Discus with 32.84M.
The Tigers will host Saddleback and Santa Ana on Friday, February 23rd in Wheelock Stadium at 12 p.m.