Grovers and Leon Break 5k Records in San Francisco

Competing in three different locations over the weekend. the Hartnell College track & field team produced two new school records and numerous season bests. Groups were sent to the San Francisco State Distance Carnival, Stanford Invitational, and Chabot Relays.

At the SF State Distance Carnival, Diego Leon showed he will contend for a state championship in the 5000 meter run as he was his heat winner at 14:38.64. Leon's time bettered the Hartnell College record of 14:39.37 set by Daniel Tapia in 2009 in the same meet. The time was also a personal best for Leon by 21 seconds and is the best mark in Northern California by 12 seconds. Also running personal best 5000 meter races were sophomore Luis Vargas (15:28.85) and freshman Javier Garcia (15:38.47). Frosh Malena Grover matched her male counterpart Leon as she lowered her own school record in the 5000 meter run to 17:42.24. Grover is the first Hartnell woman ever to run the 5000 meter race under 18:00 and is now the second fastest female in Northern California. Brandi Hobson (18:28.74) lowered her season best by 10 seconds and dipped under the state automatic qualifying mark. Sophomore Maritza Ruelas (19:26.61) ran a season best as well. Sophomore Rachel Shimabukuro competed in both the 3000 meter steeplechase and 5000 meters. Her 11:52.73 in the steeplechase is the second best time in school history and second ever sub 12:00 time for the event for Hartnell ladies. Shimabukuro is now ranked second in Northern California just six seconds from the best performance. She doubled back with her second best 5000 meter run of the season (19:18.06). Competing in the 1500 meter run, Nancy Rodriguez ran a season best 5:11.29. Sophomore Tito Chaidez just missed the state automatic qualifying mark in the 3000 meter steeplechase but his 9:50.32 was a lifetime best by 23 seconds.

For full San Francisco State Distance Carnival Results: http://www.directathletics.com/results/track/36858.html

At the Chabot Relays, freshman Tori Teraji put up solid marks in several events. Teraji set season bests in the pole vault (9'9"), long jump (14'9.75"), high jump (4'9), shot put (34'11.75"), and javelin (98'10"). Frosh Diego Avila got a regional qualifier in the 5000 meters (16:05.73) with Bryan Stamos improving to 16:20.49. Cynthia Tovar got two personal bests in the 1500 meters (5:13.44) and 5000 meters (19:29.83). Freshman Andrew Salas improved to 21'4.75" in the long jump. Frankie Gutierrez improved in the hammer (127'1") and javelin (162'9"). Mayra Padron qualified to the regional meet with a personal best 117'0.75" in the hammer throw.

For full Chabot Relays results: http://www.directathletics.com/results/track/36658.html

Former Palma High School product Rhett Gonzalez was the highest placing performer at the Stanford Invitational running 15.26 in the 110 meter hurdles

For full Stanford Invitational results: http://www.directathletics.com/results/track/40020.html