by Aaron Kiel
Staff Writer
ULV junior Erika Spencer and sophomore Gilbert Gomez shined at the Cerritos track meet on Feb. 26, while the collective track team looked fair at its first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) competition last Saturday at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
At Cerritos, Spencer placed first in the women’s javelin and Gomez broke a school record in the 1,500 meters.
Spencer, who says her strength is in the high jump, is doing better with the javelin. She placed first in the javelin at both Cerritos and CMS.
“My favorite event is the high jump, that’s why I’m doing track,” she said.
Spencer proved that she can also do well in the high jump. At CMS, she beat the competition and came in first.
Spencer explained that she is still not doing her best in the high jump and needs to improve.
“My strong point should be the high jump, but it’s coming along,” she said.
While spending two years at Citrus College, Spencer gained plenty of experience on their track team. Last semester she ran cross country for ULV.
“I still have a lot to learn,” she said. “And I need to improve my form.”
Spencer is excited about the season and is hopeful that everyone can place in the top three in the running and jumping events.
“The coaching staff is awesome. They’re good at motivating and encouraging everyone,” said Spencer.
Gomez, whose main event is the steeplechase, broke Larry Gillens’ school record at Cerritos in the 1,500 meter race with a new time of 4:13. Gillens’ time was 4:15. This was Gomez’s second school record this year. His third happened at CMS where he came in seventh place in the 5,000 meter race with a time of 16:20.
“It’s the beginning of the season but I’m already doing better than last year,” said Gomez. “As far as time-wise, I’ve done better with races.”
Head Coach Pat Widolff said there were not that many teams at the Feb. 26 meet and many entered unattached.
“We were hoping for more competition,” said Widolff.
Last Saturday, at the first SCIAC meet, the track team looked fair in their respective events, but overall, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags and Athenas came out on top.
Marc Tyler came in third place in the men’s 100 meter with a time of 11.27, while the Stags placed first and second.
CMS again beat out ULV in the men’s 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 meter relays. The Leos came in second and third with times of 43.15 and 3:30, respectively.
In the shot put, Phil Rudulph finished second with a distance of 41’5”. CMS came in first with 50’1/2”.
Dan Fewx placed third in the discus with a distance of 117’1” and Rudolph placed fifth with 109’5”.
Tori Bare broke her own school record in the women’s 400 meter with a time of 61.06, beating her previous time of 61.16. She also placed second in the 200 meter with a time of 26.75.
The next SCIAC meet will be hosted by the Redlands Bulldogs on Friday, March 24.
The teams will be compete in the Cal State Fullerton Invitational tomorrow at 9 a.m. in Fullerton.
