Hartnell Men Fall Short in Annual DeAnza Dual Meet

A competition created in 2017, the annual Hartnell vs De Anza "Duel Meet" was designed to pit the two programs most likely to win the Coast Conference Championship in a head to head competition. Although the Hartnell men did not win any of the annual head to head competitions, they have subsequently won the Coast Conference titles in 2018 and last year in 2022. After losing to host De Anza College in this year's dual meet, the Panthers will have three weeks to prepare for the 2023 Coast Conference Championship and attempt to repeat their team title. 

The Panthers did win six events. Zachary Sims continued his magic throwing season in the javelin setting a meet record with a toss of 55.90m/183-4. He was established a new meet record in the long jump winning the competition in 6.74m/22-1. Freshman Ethan Lavina won the triple jump in 13.19m/43-3. Lavina also won the high jump on less misses with a clearance of 1.80m/5-11. Frosh Javin Nair won the pole vault in 3.70m/12-1. 

In the running events, Ricky Diaz III was a double winner in the 1500m (4:06.02) annd 800m (1:58.27). 

Other notable performances heading into the Coast Conference Championship on April 26 included Ramon Duran's 16.44 lifetime best in the 110mHH, Marco Espinoza-Morado in the 100m (11.04), Kaimana Cantere (10:16.94) and Maximo Puga (10:45.38) in the 3k steeplechase, Ethan Lavina (6.59m/21-7) and Elijah Washington (6.47m/21-2) in the long jump, Orlando Dorado in the shot put (12.02m/39-5) and hammer (44.66m/146-6), and Zachary Sims in the triple jump (12.96m/42-6). 

The Panthers will travel south to the Long Beach City College Twilight Classic for an opportunity to compete in the other half of the region. The meet will take place Friday, April 7 at Veteran's Stadium in Long Beach.