Cuesta's Thomason defends her CCCAA state title in pole vault

by The Tribune

Cuesta College track and field standout Augusta Thomason put the finishing touch on her impressive two-year career as a Cougar last weekend at the California Community College State Track and Field Championships.

The Cuesta Female Athlete of the Yeardefended her state title in the pole vault, clearing 12 feet, 5 1/4 inches to become the third Cuesta athlete to win consecutive championships. The Texas A&M-bound Augusta jumped nearly a foot higher as a freshman, but still had no trouble against this year's field.

Morro Bay graduate Madeline Ogle finished second in the 5,000 meters and improved on her own school record time by crossing the finish line in 17 minutes, 30.68 seconds. Former Atascadero High standout Miranda Daschian placed fifth in the 1,500 in 4:42.44, helping the women to a 14th-place finish in the team standings.

On the men's side, Arroyo Grande graduate Joe Reeves placed second in the pole vault with a top clearance of 16- 1/2 . Teammate Joe Dreyer cleared the same height and fell to third based on fewer misses.

Decathletes Aaron Cheek and Matt Tyler finished fifth and seventh, respectively.

Cheek tallied season-best marks in eight of his 10 events to score 6,273 points, breaking Geoff Bradshaw's school record that stood since 1989. Tyler was on similar strong pace early on, but he did not score in the javelin and completed the competition with 5,895 points.

Distance standout Sean McDermott ran his way to a fifth-place finish in the steeplechase. He crossed the finish line in 9:26.93, missing the Cuesta record by less than half a second.

McDermott also finished 10th in the 5,000 in 15:30.06. The Cougars finished ninth in the team competition.