Mt. SAC Sweeps Team Titles at Track and Field Championships

Final Results

WALNUT, Calif. - Mt. San Antonio College is back atop 3C2A track and field after a year's hiatus. The host Mounties took control of both team competitions mid-way through Saturday's finals at Hilmer Lodge Stadium, packing up points in the field events (including a 1-2-3- finish in the men's triple jump) to win both titles: the men with 144 points and the women with 117 points.

San Diego Mesa was second in the men's competition with 88 points. Defending champion Riverside CC finished third with 61. Cerritos was the women's runner-up with 72 points. Defending champion Modesto JC finished third with 68.

Mt. SAC has previously scored a triple double of team titles from 2022-24.

WOMEN'S TRACK EVENTS

It was a dramatic finish for Eva Luu of Allan Hancock College in Saturday's opening running event. Luu sprinted over the final barrier in the 3,000 meter steeplechase to overtake race-long leader Gabriela Cardenas of Hartnell College for a decisive title triumph in 11 minutes, 47.12 seconds. Sofia Moody of Bakersfield also sprinted to the finish to capture silver (11:48.54). Cardenas, the state season leader in the event at 11:29.32 , had to settle for the bronze medal, clocking 11:51.89. Northern California champion Deia Kerseg, the top seed, settled for fourth place (11:55.13).

Mt. SAC recorded its first track win of the meet, taking a close 4x100 meter relay in 46.60, just short of its state leading season best of 46.35. Riverside CC placed second (46.73) and San Diego Mesa was third (47.08).

Jazzlyn Islas of SD Mesa took the lead in the women's 1,500 on the final backstretch and won going away in 4:43.93. Maya Natarajan of Moorpark won the battle for second in 4:47.51 over Keitlyn Reyes (4:48.90) of Mt. SAC. NorCal champion Ericka Dorn of San Mateo placed fourth (4:49.93), ahead of state season leader Casey McConn of Mt. SAC (4:50.09), who has run 4:35.45 this year.

Women's 100 hurdles state leader Ashonti Brown (13.41) of San Joaquin Delta had no problem leading out of the blocks and winning in 13.54. Tiana Burgess of Riverside finished second (13.19), while Nyrah Wyatt of host Mt. SAC was third (14.34).

Hazel Rhodes of College of the Canyons had little trouble defending her state title in the 400 meters, running 54.78 to defeat Alonna Bush (56.52) of College of the Canyons and Jenna Krostag (56.66) of Fullerton.

Shaylan Roy-Williams of Modesto defended her 100 meter title handily, running 11.44, to finish ahead of Chabot's Nyarah Anderson-Brown (11.50) and Delta's Brown (11.67).

Jazzlyn  Islas of San Diego Mesa took the lead in the 800 on the first lap and held it to win gold with a state season best clocking, 2:12.36. Nyla Nolan of Cerritos placed second (2:14.75) and Kiala Haas of Santa Barbara CC took third (2:15.68).

Brown of Delta continued her outstanding day on the track, defending her 400 hurdles title in style in 1:02.53. Monique Fulling of College of the Canyons gave chase in the stretch but settled for second in 1:03.10. Nyrah Wyatt of Mt. SAC took bronze (1:04.09).

Chabot's Anderson-Brown took the lead into the straight in the 200 meters to post an upset win in a state season best 23.46 over Modesto's defending champion Roy-Williams (23.68), and 400 winner Rhodes (24.08) of Canyons.

Maya Nataraian of Moorpark broke away from a tight pack over the final laps of the 5,000 meters and had a solid lead at the bell. She won in 18:11.29, ahead of Natalie Allen (18:19.88) of Mesa and Jacelyn Izarraraz-Rodriguez (18:23.32) of Mt. SAC.

Cerritos won the concluding 4x400 meter relay race, clocking 3:50.80, just shy of its state season leading time of 3:50.33. Mesa finished second (3:52.42) and College of the Canyons took the bronze (3:53.47)

WOMEN'S FIELD EVENTS

Danielle Kouamo of Fresno City College started the second day of women's competition with an upset discus throw victory, reaching a state season best 154 feet, 2 inches on her fourth attempt. Cerritos swept the next three places to score 19 points and boost the early team lead at that time to 37 points, ahead of Mt. SAC (29) and De Anza (24). Former state pacesetter Mackenzie Monson was second at 152-4, followed by Miracle Siaosi (146-1) and Aysia Mallory Felliciano (142-7).

Monson rebounded to take the shot put at 43-9 3/4 over state leader Nevaeh Dyer of Cuesta, who placed second at 41-10 3/4. Emma Samvelian of Mt. SAC was third (41-8 1/2).

Roxanne Meyer of Saddleback, the only 3C2A athlete to long jump over 20 feet this season, extended her top mark to 20-4 1/2 to win the state title. Modesto sprinter Roy-Williams jumped 19-2 for the silver medal (before resuming her duties on the track). Vivian Moore of College of the Sequoias placed third at 18-11 3/4.

Meyer doubled in the triple jump, where she is the only state jumper over 40 feet this year (41-10 3/4). She bounded 41-7 for the gold medal – also taking women's field athlete-of-the meet honors. Tiana Burgess of Riverside placed second (38-8 3/4) and Destiny Rayburn of Pasadena was third (37-9 1/2).

State high jump pacesetter Illicia Ross (5-8 3/4) of Mt. SAC won her specialty at 5-7. Rylan Steckler of Modesto was second and Lillian Thrasher of Monterey Peninsula took third – both clearing 5-5.

Miku Yanagawa of Mt. SAC equaled her state season leading pole vault height of 13-1 1/2 to win that competition and is the only state athlete to better 13 feet this season. Her Mounties teammate Emma Samvelian placed second at 12-9 1/2, moving into second on the state season list. Tillianna Wakefield-Carl of El Camino was third (12-1 1/2).

MEN'S TRACK EVENTS

State leader Juan Flores of Cerritos survived finishing challenges in the men's 3,000 steeplechase, holding on for the gold medal in 9:19.26. He came in with the best time, 9:03.24. NorCal champion Davis Bosch of Clovis, running in third place, was the sprinter off the final water jump, coming home in 9:19.87 for second, while Micah Watson of San Bernardino Valley held on for third (9:20.01).

San Diego Mesa got out fast in the 4x100 relay and held the advantage to triumph in a state season best time, 40.09, holding off Merritt on the anchor leg. The thunderbirds posted the No. 2 time of the season, 40.32 for second, followed by College of the Sequoias (41.01).

State 1,500 pacesetter Cameron Mobley of American River held a 10 meter lead in the metric mile at the bell and extended it to win handily in a new season best, 3:49.57. Weston Greenelsh of Cuesta closed to finish second (3:52.31), just nipping Julian Valdivia (3:52.52) of College of the Sequoias.

Jayden Bailey of San Diego Mesa needed a state season best in the 110 meter hurdles to win, 14.17, beating his teammate Evan Munoz (14.36). Antonio Moore of College of the Canyons took the bronze medal (14.41).

In the 400, state leader Shamarion Unden of San Diego Mesa ran a strong last curve and took the lead into the final straight to triumph in 47.64. Jayden Scarver of Modesto JC also finished strong to take second, 48.05, with Orlando Collins of Riverside third (48.14).

The 28 Mesa points in the hurdles and 400 put the Olympians into the men's lead with 52 points at this juncture to 47 for Mt. SAC and 33 for Riverside.

Justin Perry of Chabot beat everyone out of the blocks in the 100 meters and held onto win in 10.35, ahead of state season leader Ryan Mann (10.30) of San Diego Mesa, second in 10.47. Tevin Howerton of College of the Sequoias was third, equaling his best of 10.50.

State 800 leader Axel Rebolledo-Ynostros of Cerritos had the best finish to win in 1:52.81, just off his season pacesetting mark of 1:52.02. ARC's Mobley, coming back after his 1,500 win, closed fast for second (1:52.92) with Anthony Frere of Cuesta third (1:53.11).

Adonis Siga of Delta took control of the 400 hurdles race at the outset and cruised to an impressive victory in a state season best of 51.15. Former state leader Mike Schinstock of Saddleback placed second (52.77) and Ahkil McClellan of Riverside took third in 53.20.

Marquez Guzman of Mt. SAC closed best in the 200 to win a tight race in 20.78, a state season best, over former pacesetter Mann of Mesa, who ran 20.87. Roman Finney of Moorpark took third (20.98).

The 10 points in the 200 by Mt. SAC, along with top finishes in concurrent field events, placed the Mounties in control in the team race with 102 points to 78 for Mesa and 53 for Riverside, with four events left to be scored.

Diego Varela of Mt. SAC came off the final curve of the 5,000 meter race with a torrid sprint that took him to the wire in 14:45.68, turning back previous leader Tommy White of Moorpark, second in 14:47.97, and Weston Greenelsh (14:48.42) of Cuesta. Varela became a double winner in the 5 and 10K and was selected men's track and field athlete of the meet.

San Diego Mesa won a three-team battle of state top teams in the concluding 4x400 meter race in 3:13.16, just edging Riverside (3:13.87). Mt. SAC finished in the bronze position in 3:14.30. None approached their top season marks, headed by state leader Mesa at 3:10.54.

MEN'S FIELD EVENTS

Myles Massie of host Mt. SAC long jumped 25 feet (even) on his final attempt to capture the  title over previous state-leading adversary Isiah Williams of Saddleback, who had the previous competition leading mark of 24-1 in the fifth round. Williams came in as the state season leader at 24-4 1/4. Tyrus Murguia captured third place for Mt. SAC at 23-9, giving the Mounties 16 valuable team points in the early Saturday event and extending their team lead from the first day to 36 total points. Modesto JC and Cerritos remained tied for second with 15 points apiece.

Massie doubled in the triple jump, leading a Mounties sweep of the top three places for 24 points, effectively wrapping up the team title later in the day. Already the state season leader at 52-4, Massie leaped 51-0 for the gold medal. Trailing were teammates Michael Danna (49-2 1/2) and Brandyn Wetherspoon (48-10 3/4).

Anik Singh of Mt. Sac was the high jump winner at 6-8 3/4, raising his previous best by two inches. Elias Weathers of American River placed second and Marcus Madoski of Modesto was third, both clearing 6-6 3/4.

Liam Brennan of De Anza improved his state season discus throw lead to 176-4 to win that event -- ahead of College of San Mateo's Evan Usher, who produced the No. 2 mark of the year, 166-4. Toni Babatunde of Mt. SAC placed third at 163-11.

Shot put pacesetter Zoom Wilson (53-4 1/2 best) hit 52-9 1/2 on his second attempt, which was just enough for the gold. Ryan McGlashan of De Anza reached 52-8 on his fifth try for second place, with Omar Sanchez of Riverside taking third at 52-1 1/2.

Sam Peters of American River pole vaulted 15-9 to win the meet's last event to finish, after the conclusion of the relays. Connor Hutchison of Saddleback placed second at 15-3 and Caleb Garcia closed out the Mt. SAC scoring with a third place finish (14-9).

MEN'S DECATHLON:  Marcus Madoski of Modesto, effectively, wrapped up the decathlon crown going into the concluding 1,500 meters. He ran 5:08.72 for 511 points and won the overall title with 6,921 points. Finishing second was Taiyo Ishiguro of Mt. SAC, who ran 5:00.98 to score 554 points for a solid silver medal total of 6,742 – well ahead of his third place (overall) teammate Jadan Williams (6,540). Madoski also placed third in the individual high jump on Saturday, where he is the state season co-leader at 6-10 3/4 this season. He was the decathlon individual event pacesetter in the high jump (6-7), 100 meters (11.04), and 400 meters (48.47).

WOMEN'S HEPTATHLON: Lillian Thrasher of Monterey Peninsula posted a significant lead in the first six events of the women's heptathlon, so was able to just cruise through a concluding 800 meters in 2:36.40 (for 615 points) and still win the two-day competition by more than 200 points, totaling 4,846. Makayla Fairman of Cuyamaca placed second (4,619) and Amyah Moore of Delta was third (4,545). Thrasher also placed third in the individual high jump.

Athletes of the Meet:   
Women, Co-Track: Ashonti Brown, San Joaquin Delta, won 100 & 400 hurdle races, fourth in 100 meters; ran on ninth place 4 x 400 relay; Jazzlyn Islas, San Diego Mesa, won 800 and 1,500 meters; ran on second place 4 x 400 relay.
Women Field: Roxanne Meyer, Saddleback, won long jump and triple jump.
Men Track: Diego Varela, Mt. SAC, won the 5,000 and 10,000.
Men Field: Myles Massie, Mt. SAC, won long jump and triple jump.

Men's Track and Field Final Team Scores (Top 10)

Women's Track and Field Final Team Scores (Top 10)

Courtesy of Fred Baer, CCCSIA