SportsTrack & Field

Athletes jump to national heights

Sophomore Christy DeLapp attempts to clear the height of 5' in the high jump at the La Verne Invitational held on March 23. DeLapp cleared the height on her second attempt, but did not clear 5' 2". To provisionally qualify for the NCAA Division III track and field nationals, held in Minneapolis, DeLapp will need to clear a height of 5' 4". / photo by Tom Galaraga
Sophomore Christy DeLapp attempts to clear the height of 5′ in the high jump at the La Verne Invitational held on March 23. DeLapp cleared the height on her second attempt, but did not clear 5′ 2″. To provisionally qualify for the NCAA Division III track and field nationals, held in Minneapolis, DeLapp will need to clear a height of 5′ 4″. / photo by Tom Galaraga

by R. Anthony Thurman
Staff Writer

While the rest of the students were packing up for spring break, the University of La Verne track and field teams were preparing for the La Verne Invitational held March 23.

Among the schools competing were Long Beach City College, Redlands, Cal Poly Pomona, Riverside City College, West Los Angeles City College, and Occidental, to name a few, plus several unattached competitors.

Despite some fierce competition, the Leopards were able to display their athletic firepower, which had their conference opposition taking notice.

“Our 4×100 team has suffered some setbacks, however we ran through it,” said senior record-holder Will Lawson.

“On Saturday our men and women showed this conference and all these JC’s that we could hang with the big dogs,” he said.

In the men’s events of the invitational, Lawson finished second in the invitational in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.95 and finished first in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 53.16.

Also placing for the Leopards in the men’s were Eric Thomas and Dimitri Watson with individual times of 11.09 and 11.15 in the 100-meter dash respectively, and Thomas and Watson again in the 200-meter dash with respective times of 22.40 and 22.84.

In the men’s 800-meter run Cecilio Barrera and Fasial Javed placed with respective times of 1:58:36 and 2:01.24.

In the 3000-meter steeplechase Kelly Wood took third place with a time of 10.18 while the men’s 4×400 relay took first place with a time of 3:28:00.

In the women’s events, Dejuana Satchell took second place in the invitational in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12:60 and taking a fourth place spot was Amber Clayton with a time of 13:28.

Placing high for the women in the 800-meter run was Amby Sarabia with a time of 2:27:78 and Andrea Benetiz in the 1500-meter run with the time of 6:15:45.

Monica Martinez captured first place in the women’s 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:06.68 and the 4×100 meter relay took first place with the time of 50:12.

Taking first place spots in both the high jump and the triple jump was Liz Lucsko with respective jumps of 5-2 and 36-3.5 and placing for the women’s javelin event was Gerlaine Kiamco with the distance of 29:13.

Out throwing the competition in the women’s shot put was last season All-American Lori Waters, who finished first in the invitational with the distance of 44-6 and Ellen Soakai qualified for nationals in shot put with the throwing distance of 42-2.

Also qualifying for nationals was senior Jason Riley for high jump and junior Brandon Tedrow for discus.

“It was a good meet because 16 schools came out,” said head coach Pat Widolff.

“The kids did real well. We had three kids qualify for nationals but it wasn’t a scoring meet so as a team it wasn’t that big of a deal.”

ULV’s next meet is at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow when the Leopards travel to the UC Riverside Classic Invitational.

R. Anthony Thurman
Other Stories Bio
Tom Galaraga
Other Stories Bio
Previous article
Associated Press’ Cross leaves mark on journalism class
Next article
‘Life, Love, Laughter’ plays the night away

Latest Stories

Related articles

LV Life

Animals loom large – and small – at the Fair

The Los Angeles County Fair, down the street from the University at the Fairplex in Pomona, opened May 7 and among the wide variety of events, rides and exhibits is a host of animals to visit, watch perform and interact with.
LV Life

Families return to Cal Poly Pomona for pumpkins

Visitors stroll through rows of pumpkins at the Cal Poly Pomona Pumpkin Patch on Saturday. The annual event draws families and locals for fall activities and festivities.
LV Life

Goats charm Los Angeles County Fair goers

Since 1922, the Los Angeles County Fair has been home to a variety of attractions. The fair not only has rides and food, but plenty of animals that guests can get up close and personal with.
LV Life

Arabian horses show off athleticism

The W.K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Center at Cal Poly Pomona hosted its monthly horse show Sunday.