Track & Field Set to Compete at CCCAA State Championships

After a strong performance at the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Southern Regional Championships, the Riverside City College track and field program is set to compete at the CCCAA State Championships beginning this Friday, May 17 in San Mateo, CA.

The championship meet will be streamed live on BAOSN.TV free of charge. All other information regarding the meet can be found here. The men are coming off of their first Southern Regioanl crown since 2014 after winning by 102 points and amassing a total of 212 points. The women placed second by a hair,  but will look to compete at the state level. 

MEN

The men are on the hunt for their eighth state title in program history. They will look to hoist the trophy with a deep representation of Tigers participating in 18 of the 21 events. Multiple athletes will be competing in more than one event which includes the Hammer, Javelin, 100 M, 200 M, and 800 M to prove their talented depth.

Riverside is slated to dominate the throws events with sophomore Alec Jones leading the charge. He holds to top mark in the Hammer (174' 4") and the second strongest mark in the Discus (162' 9"). Furthermore, he has the fourth-best mark in the Shot Put (49' 1"). Sophomore Marcos Gonzalez paces the Javelin (182' 8").

Three other Tigers will participate in the Hammer with sophomore Russell Bedre (170' 1") just two slots behind Jones at third overall. Sophomore duo Brett Shiflett (161' 4") and Trevor Nakata (159' 3") following close behind. Freshman Patrick Maria holds the third best clip in the Javelin (173' 1").

Holding down the sprinting division is sophomore Antonio Mitchell. After sweeping the podium at the Southern Regional Championships, he holds the top time in the 100 M (10.32) and the 200 M (20.71). He will also be participating in the 4 x 100 M Relay (40.17) and the 4 x 400 M Relay (3:10.33). Both relay times come in as tops in the state.

Joining Mitchell on the 4 x 100 M Relay will be freshman William Dower, Sophomore Jamal Palmer and sophomore Keylan Dennis. Sophomore Phil Griggs, sophomore Keanon Dennis and Key. Dennis comprise the 4 x 400 M Relay squad.

Freshman Jabriel Smith is just two one hundredths of a second behind Mitchell in the 100 M (10.34).  Palmer will compete in the 100 M 910.57), while Key. Dennis will look to haul in the 400 M (47.36) title.

The 800 M is stacked with competitors as Riverside has three participants in the event. Freshman Mohamed Mohammed paces the pack (1:53.40), while sophomore Julian Robles (1:54.49) and sophomore Enrique Villa (1:54.56) follow closely behind. Villa will also be participating in the 1,500 M (3:57.80).

Sophomore Austin Dai provides the distance strength by qualifying for the 5,000 M (15:50.24) and the 10,000 M (32:55.73). Freshman Jacob Woods will look to make waves in the Heptathlon after winning the OEC Multis earlier this season.

WOMEN

Freshamn Annayah Pelt will compete in three events to highlight the bunch. She is slated to run in the 200 M 924.81), the 400 M (57.49) and a leg in the 4 x 400 M Relay (3:52.21) – a relay squad that currently paces the state. Joining her on the relay team is freshman LaDaijah Wright, freshman Alana Wilson and sophomore Madeline Corner.

Wright will compete in the 400 M (58.68), while Corner will participate in the 400 M Hurdles (64.54). Wilson will try her hand in the 200 M (24.39) and the 100 M (11.98).

Sophomore Sha'quan Matthews will look to take home the gold in the 100 M hurdles (14.76) while holding the second-strongest seed time. Freshman Mariah Allen will compete in two events coming in the 100 M (11.82) and the 200 M (24.44).

Sophomore Sujey Esteva will hold down the distance events coming in the 5,000 M (18:40.68) and the 10,000 M (40:01.98). Freshman Cassandra Pielow is slotted to compete in the 800 M (2:23.58), while sophomore Mareibel Madera is ready to rumble in the 3,000 M Steeplechase (12:41.03).

Riverside is deep in the throws department highlighted by sophomore Angelique Hudson. She holds the strongest mark in the Shot Put (44' 11.5"). Freshman Keiana Turner qualified for the Shot Put (36' 11.5"), Hammer (150' 11") and the Discus (106' 11"). Sophomore Tayler Salley will look to make waves in the Discus (128' 1"), while Gabriela Sanabria holds the third-strongest time in the Javelin (125').

Sophomore Karen Orozco continues to hold down the Tigers in the field events by qualifying for the Pole Vault (10' 4") for her second-consecutive season.