Leon Drops National Leading Mark at Long Beach

Sophomore Diego Leon started the season with some of the fastest times in the state before an illness struck that kept his marks just average until recent weeks. Leon has recovered to set a Hartnell record 5000 meter mark at the SFSU Distance Carnival and lifetime best 800 meters at the Ed Adams Invitational. But it was the Long Beach Invitational Saturday that saw Diego produce two of his best times in his life as he preps for runs at Norcal and state titles in the events. Competing against four year university athletes from all over the nation, Leon was victorious in his 1500 meter heat with a lifetime best 3:53.24. The marks also bumps him to second best in California just behind Brandon Messerly of Cuesta at 3:53.07. It was Leon's 5000 meter time that was even more special. Running in the invitational heat with only the tenth best mark coming in, the former Anzar High School standout dropped the field with a fast lap that and stopped the clock at 14:26.68. The mark takes not only the California community college lead but lowered his own school record by 12 seconds and is the fastest time in the event in the nation for a community college athlete. Leon was an early signee this fall to Montana State University where he will join former Panther Cristian Soratos, one of the top milers in the NCAA.

Also performing well Saturday's distance races were Malena Grover in the 1500 meters and Brandi Hobson, Cynthia Tovar, Maritza Ruelas in the 5000 meters, and Rachel Shimabukuro in the 3000 meter steeplechase. Grover ran a lifetime best 4:47.30 in the metric mile to go to fifth all-time in school history. Hobson inched closer to her lifetime best with a nine second season best 18:19.82, Tovar had a lifetime best 19:13.30 with Ruelas right behind at 19:17.18. Shimabukuro lowered her season best in the steeplechase and remains second ranked in Northern California with 11:42.19.

Rhett Gonzalez competed in the 110 high hurdles (15.16), Nathan Bishop the pole vault (14'0.25"), and the men's 4x400 relay team of Nolan Fuqua, Chase Pacheco, Marcus Washington, and Robby Rykowski went 3:24.56.

For full Long Beach Invitational results: http://www.directathletics.com/results/track/40681.html