Benito Leads Panthers at West Coast Relays

A small group of Panther men traveled to Clovis in the Central Valley to compete at the West Coast Relays. The meet was hosted by Fresno State University and featured athletes from the NCAA DI, DII, NAIA levels along with high caliber unattached athletes. Despite rain showers dampening the second half of the meet, Hartnell enjoyed an event winner and two heat winners while posting several key personal and seasonal bests and it readies for the championship season.

Sophomore Ethan Lavina enjoyed the event win in the triple jump recording a new lifetime best 14.13m. Lavina maintains his Northern California lead in the event heading into April. Moises Benito ran wire to wire in his heat of the 800 meters to a lifetime best 1:56.92. In the same event, Lui Cota ran his first sub 2:00 race in 1:59.41. Freshman Eduardo Morfin won his heat of the 100 meters in 11.05 as he awaits better sprinting weather. Joshua Shimoda improved on his javelin personal best to 50.51m in his breakout season in the event. Andy Ruiz Perez tossed another lifetime best in the hammer at 48.43m to improve on his State "A" mark. Remse Pamintuan had a personal best in the discus (33.91m) and was just 60cm off his season best in the hammer (41.10m). Pamintuan added a shot put personal best of 11.32m to conclude his day. Javin Niar soared to his season best with good weather helping at 4.13m. The men's 4x100 relay of Niar, Morfin, Johnny Venegas, and Lavina improved to 43.32. Marco Barrera remained consistent in the 400mH (60.32). Freshman Julian Vargas debuted at 1500 meters in 4:02.15. Freshman Mauro Medina-Rodriguez lowered his 400m best to 51.35 as he inches closer to his first ever 50 second clocking.

Panthers will compete next at the Mike Fanelli Classic and Stanford Invitational over March 29-30.