Mike Senyo
Staff Writer
The University of La Verne track and field teams competed in the Occidental Invitational at Eagle Rock to prepare for the upcoming Claremont Classic, as well as NCAA Outdoor Championships in Iowa on May 28.
At the invitational, ULV competed against familiar Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rivals, as well as Division I schools.
ULV improved their performance from the week before with sophomore Chelsea Sherier breaking the conference and school record of pole vault at 12-0.
“This is something I’ve been aiming at all season,” Sherier said. “It was kind of a surprise because I was sick and had missed practice for two days.”
Sherier’s performance also placed her to compete in the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Waverly, Iowa.
“We had great marks and were a lot better,” head coach Pat Widolff said. “Meets are just like that. Sometimes things go right and other times wrong.”
Senior Lakia Pearson had a successful meet with a personal best in the long jump of 18-7 1/4 and also recorded a season best of 38-2 1/4 in the triple jump to rank among the Top 10 nationally in both events.
“My regiment is to imagine that every meet is the nationals,” Pearson said. “This is my last chance to get my championship.”
Pearson also received SCIAC Athlete of the Year honors for the second year in a row this year.
“It was really unbelievable to win it two years in a row,” Pearson said. “It was one of my goals and with nationals coming up I can’t wait to see what happens next.”
After tomorrow’s meet a select few will remain practicing in preparation for the championships.
La Verne will be competing nationally against 400 other Division III institutions during finals week.
As a result these athletes will have to take their finals earlier in order to make the competition on time.
“We should do exceptionally well,” Pearson said. “I have so much faith in this team. I’m pretty optimistic.”
The Leopards will compete at 4 p.m. tomorrow at the Claremont Classic in Claremont.
Mike Senyo can be reached at msenyo@ulv.edu.
