AMERICAN RIVER MEN & SEQUOIAS WOMEN LEAD NORCAL QUALIFIERS TO STATE FINALS

May 15, 2016

American River College and College of the Sequoias won respective men's and women's titles at the Northern California Track & Field Championships Saturday (May 14), which determined finalists for the 2016 California Community College Athletic Association Championships at San Diego Mesa College, May 20-21.

MEN'S RECAP:

American River won the men's championship with 180 1/2 points, ahead of College of the Sequoias (103), Modesto JC (100), Hartnell (53 1/2), and Santa Rosa JC (44 1/2).

MEN'S RACE HIGHLIGHTS:

Although College of the Sequoias came into the meet as the USA community college leader in the 4 x 100 meter relay, Modesto JC won in 40.72 seconds, with Diablo Valley second (41.21) and COS third (41.41).

Isiah Johnson of Sequoias was an upset winner in the 400 meters in 47.83 as his state leading teammate Ohdel James ran with a taped quad and managed just fifth in 48.57. James has run 46.56 (No. 2 nationally) and Johnson is No. 7 at 46.97 this year. Johnson ran a 47.1 anchor on the COS winning 4 x 400 meter relay (3:12.88)

The distance races had close finishes. Conor Wells of American River won the 1,500 meters in 3:55.02 by a hair over Tyler Daugherty (3:55.11) of Merritt. In the 3,000 meter steeplechase, Joseph Esparza of Redwoods ran 9:44.29 to edge Donald Plazola (9:44.41) of American River. ARC's Abdul Hamid took the 5,000 meters in 15:11.24, ahead of Jason Intravala (15:16.17) of Chabot. Hamid is the state season leader in both the 5K (14:31.13) and 10K (30:48.11) -- and won the NorCal title at the longer distance the previous weekend.

In the 110 meter hurdles, James Traylor of CCSF won a duel with Leroy Elliott of Chabot over the last two hurdles, improving his state No. 3 ranking time to 14.39, while No. 4 ranked Elliott also improved to 14.51.

Donovan Wallace of Modesto JC doubled in the 100 meters (10.34) and 200 meters (20.63), beating Holland Cabara of Sequoias in both races. Wallace ranks second in the state in both sprints, 10.27 in the 100 and now 20.63 in the 200.

In the 800 meters, Gerardo Castro of CCSF, ranked No. 2 nationally at 1:50.19, led all the way to win in 1:51.95. Chabot's Conner Mckinnon ran 1:52.60 to just nip American River's Steven Hill (1:52.69) for second.

Treshon Woods of American River improved his best in the 400 meter hurdles by more than two seconds to win in a state season best 52.11 over early race leader Chris Green of Sequoias (52.94), who hit the ninth hurdle and settled for second place.

MEN'S FIELD EVENTS:

College of San Mateo's Alvin Sung was a big winner with a javelin throw of 194 feet, ahead of Haile Filmon (179-7) of San Jose. Sung took over the state lead among active athletes headed to the state finals.

Daniel Roberts of Modesto won both the discus throw, 179-0, and the hammer throw, 208-3. He leads the state in both events this season with respective marks of 183-7 and 209-3. Ryan Donnahoe of Yuba won the shot put at 52-10 3/4 – where he is the state season leader at 58-2 1/2.

The long jump had the closest field contest. American River teammates Austin Collier and James Dudley both reached 23-11 1/2 but Collier getting the win with the better second effort. Bryce Huggins of Sequoias was a half inch back in third place. Tristan Meye of De Anza took the triple jump at 48-0 3/4, ahead of Modesto's Donovan Wallace (47-11 3/4).

The two remaining field events had dominant victors -- Domunique Stewart of Shasta in the high jump at 6-10 1/4 (No. 2 in the state this year) and Michael Fancey of San Joaquin Delta in the pole vault at 15-5 3/4. Fancey ranks second in California with his season best 15-9 3/4.

WOMEN'S RECAP:

Sequoias won the team championship with 131 points, followed by Fresno (89), American River (84), Modesto (78), and De Anza (63).

WOMEN'S RACE HIGHLIGHTS:

Strangenae Campbell of Diablo Valley upset USA community college 100 meter leader Moesha Davidson of Fresno by .01 in 11.60 seconds. Davidson has run 11.36 this year and Campbell ranks second at 11.42. In the 200, Campbell led all the way to win in 23.69, best in California this year and No. 4 nationally.

Meleni Rodney of Sequoias, national leader in the 400 meters at 53.89, won that event easily in 55.49 ahead of Mariama Hilburn (57.38) of Laney and also anchored the COS 4 x 400 meter relay that won in 3:57.90. Diablo Valley, anchored by Campbell, was second in 3:58.39.

The top three finishers in the 1,500 meters beat the previous state season best of 4:38.85. Malena Grover of Hartnell won the sprint to the finish in 4:35.47, ahead of Santa Rosa's Erica Ruiz (4:36.25) and former state leader Micayla Rennick of American River (4:37.47).

Cicelya Beard of San Joaquin Delta took the 800 meters in 2:17.17, just edging Rennick (2:17.95). Rennick ranks No. 2 in the state this year at 2:14.69 and Beard is No. 5 at 2:16.46.

Jenica Dodge of American River added the 5,000 meters title (17:35.57) to the 10K crown she had won the previous week. Grover was second in 17:46.32. Dodge and Grover rank 1-2 in the state and 2-3 nationally in both long races.

Deshaunda Morrison of Sequoias won the 100 meter hurdles in 13.53, just .01 off her former national leading mark of 13.52 (which was bettered last week in 13.43 by Danielle Riggins of Iowa Central CC). Morrison improved her state leading time in the 400 hurdles to win in 62.75 over Santa Rosa's Stephanie Fernandez (63.84).

Sequoias won both the 4 x 100 relay (45.75) and 4 x 400 relay (3:57.90). The 4 x 100 time improves the Giants state lead and ranks No. 4 nationally.

--Morrison ran the third leg on the 4 x 100 relay and also placed second in the long jump (18-7 3/4).

WOMEN'S FIELD EVENTS:

Moesha Davidson of Fresno was a double winner in the long jump (19-2 1/2) and triple jump (38-8 1/4).

Melody Harris of Fresno improved her own state leading and No. 2 national mark in the javelin throw to 154 feet, 3 inches to beat Santa Rosa's Julia Grimm (137-7), who moved up to No. 4 in the U.S. rankings.

Brandy Williams of Diablo Valley took the shot put at 45-11 1/4, improving upon her state No. 2 ranking. Anya Tonga of De Anza won the discus throw at 142-4 and ranks second in the state with her season best of 148-9.

In the high jump, Julia Grimm of Santa Rosa got the win over Petrice Beattie of Diablo Valley, clearing 5-3 1/4 on her first attempt, while Beattie needed a second try.

The pole vault was even closer, with three clearing 10-9 1/2 -- but Alexandria Clausen of Fresno getting the win on a second attempt clearance. The other two needed a third try. Amber Flores of Modesto placed second and Alexis Babbes of American River third (based upon a further countback).

Imani Bierly of Yuba took the hammer throw at 159-3.

Winners of the Northern California track and field athletes of the year in voting by coaches:

Women's Track Athlete: Strangenae Campbell, Diablo Valley College

Women's Field Athlete: Moesha Davidson, Fresno CC

Men's Track Athlete: Donovan Wallace, Modesto JC

Men's Field Athlete: Daniel Roberts, Modesto JC