ARC’S JENICA DODGE & ABDUL HAMID LEAD CCCAA STATE MEET 10K QUALIFIERS
by Fred Baer
American River College runners Jenica Dodge and Abdul Hamid lead a dozen qualifiers in the 10,000 meters for the California Community College Athletic Association track and field championships May 20-21 at San Diego Mesa College.
In Friday morning's Northern California Championships at Chabot College in Hayward, Dodge won the women's race in a meet record 36 minutes, 43.79 seconds, ahead of Malena Grover (36:50.76) of Hartnell. Jordyn Zorn (38:43.02) of Sequoias was third, followed by Mirka Uhlirova (38:51.91) of San Mateo, Dana Pollard (39:45.48) of Modesto, and Victoria Arevalo (40:06.56) of Fresno. The top two finishers smashed the former NorCal record of 38:25.1 by Casandra Goodson of Diablo Valley set in 2003.
Hamid, who leads the state in the men's 10K at 30:48.11, won the NorCal title in 31:43.51, ahead of teammate Donald Plazola (31:46.61). Jorge Sanchez (31:55.64) of Hartnell was third, followed by Hassen (Ozzie) Hassen (32:07.39) of American River, Javier Garcia (32:18.56) of Hartnell, and Brad Needles (32:24.93) of American River.
The top six in each race qualified for the state finals. The remaining events Friday involved qualifying for next Saturday's (May 14) Northern California finals at Chabot, which will determine the remaining state meet participants.
Hamid came back less than an hour later to gain the last qualifying spot for next week's NorCal 1,500 meter finals, running 4:12.25 for fifth in his heat -- won by teammate Conor Wells in 4:02.52. Hamid is the NorCal leader in that event with a best of 3:55.91. Adam Gonzalez of Sequoias led the qualifiers in 3:58.52.
Dodge is the women's state leader in both the 10K (36:17.90) and 5K (17:08.12) and ranks second nationally in both events.
In other early Friday events:
Defending NorCal women's 100 meter hurdles champion Deshaunda Morrison of Sequoias, the current U.S. Community College Track Coaches Association national leader at 13.52, led qualifiers with a 13.96 heat victory while No. 3 ranked Moesha Davidson of Fresno (13.84) won her section in 14.66. Morrison also paced the 400 meter hurdles qualifiers in 64.77. She has the state best this season (62.98).
Modesto led the qualifiers in the men's 4 x 100 relay in 40.93 -- ahead of national leader Sequoias, which has run 39.49 this season.
Ohdel James of Sequoias, the state leader in the men's 400 meters and No. 2 nationally at 46.56, paced the qualifiers in that event (which included four of his teammates) at 47.06. (Sequoias also leads California and is No. 2 nationally in the 4 x 400 meter relay at 3:07.53.)
Daniel Roberts of Modesto increased his national lead in the men's hammer throw to 209 feet, 3 inches in pacing qualifiers in that event. He also led discus throw qualifiers at 172-0 (where he ranks No. 2 nationally this year with a best of 183-7).
National women's long jump leader KiAnna Cunningham of Sequoias led qualifiers in that event easily at 18-2 1/4, well off her best of 21-4 3/4.
Meleni Rodney of Sequoias, the U.S. leader in the women's 400 meters at 53.89, won her qualifying heat in 57.43 -- while Morgan Simpson of American River was .01 faster in the other section (57.42).
Gerardo Castro of City College of San Francisco, state men's 800 leader (1:50.19) and also No. 2 in the USA, was the top qualifier in that race a 1:53.46.