Jolene Nacapuy
Assistant Sports Editor
The track and field teams competed Saturday, at the Pomona-Pitzer All Comers Meet, which was held at Sterile Track at Pomona College.
The women took first in the hammer throw and the 4×100 relay.
Senior Deanna Doss won the hammer throw, logging 45.11 meters
“I feel pretty great about placing first in the hammer event. Especially because I threw a 10-pound hammer while the normal weight is 8.8 pounds,” Doss said.
Doss also came in second place for the women’s discus throw with 34.07 meters. Freshman Jaclyn Castleberry came in third place with 32.69 meters. Panapa came in first with a length of 35.45 meters.
“The results created a great starting point for me,” Castleberry said. “Now I know where I stand and plan on improving each week.”
The women’s 4×100 meter relay team also passed Chapman, taking first with a time of 50.07. The team consisted of senior Ebony Williams, junior Tanesha Spencer, freshman Tiahna Gillon and senior Nicole Crutchfield.
“As a freshman, I was intimidated by all the talent on the team,” Castleberry said. “But the team has given me the confidence to strive for excellence as they all do.”
Freshman Alexa Smith came in fifth place for the women’s 200-meter dash, finishing with a time of 26.97. Venezuela’s Nercelis Soto finished first with a time of 23.99 and Occidental freshman Onyekachi Nwabueze and junior Jenny Quilty took second and third with a time of 26.29 and 26.69. Smith also came in 10th for the women’s 400-meter dash.
“This season I expect a lot from myself and the team. I would like the throwers to place first and second in as many events as possible,” Doss said. “I’d want the women to win conference again and have the men win too this year.”
The men’s team finished in second place in the 4×100 meter relay. Freshman James Francis, sophomores Nick Gonzalves and Robert Oshodin and senior Chancise Watkins finished with a time of 41.46. Venezuela took first finishing at 40.67.
“I felt great about the meet today,” Watkins said. “I’m confident in my team and all our relay team because I know we can do some great things out there.”
Three members of the Venezuelan team, Alberto Aguilar, Arturo Ramirez and Jose Melendez, were a part of Venezuela’s 4×400 meter team that placed seventh in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.
“The meet was good and the team that beat us was the Venezuelan team,” sophomore Dominic Woods said.
Mike Pore came in fifth place with a time of 49.19 for the men’s 400-meter dash, right behind four Venezuela runners.
Cris Gura threw for 37.63 meters in the men’s discus throw, coming in third. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps sophomore Alex Rich came in first with a length of 41.39 meters.
“We could improve on our hand offs and the timing,” Woods said. “But we will only get better through the season.”
Unattached competitors Lance Walkington and Daniel Hernandez came in first and second for the javelin throw, with 62.04 meters and 52.48 meters. Junior Brock Booth and senior Matt Rehder came in third and fourth, hurling 49.69 meters ad 49.10 meters, respectively.
“I hope to go to nationals, indoor and outdoor with my track and field family,” Watkins said. “I want the team title, that’s the goal.”
The Leopards compete again at the Rossi Relays on Saturday hosted by Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. Field events begin at 11 a.m. with the running events starting at 1 p.m.
Jolene Nacapuy can be reached at jolene.nacapuy@laverne.edu.
