Blanco Posts Fast 5k at Kyle Robinson

Freshmen Alvaro Ruelas (R) and Giancarlo Mendo (middle) lead a runner from Santa Rosa JC at the Kyle Robinson Twilight 5k.

September 29, 2024

A twilight track race during the fall was born in September 2021 and has enjoyed growing success every year. The first three editions were all held at Chabot College under the direction of coach Kyle Robinson. With his leave from Chabot, the meet moved to nearby Santa Rosa Junior College and named in his honor for creating the event. This year's event brought programs from Santa Rosa JC, Hartnell College, Chabot College, Merritt College, Diablo Valley College, and Mendocino College.

Sophomore Jesse Blanco has waited patiently since fall 2022 to get back to cross country competition but in the year between he did set personal best of 4:06 and 15:14. Racing the 5000 meters on the track for the first time since last year, Blanco dipped slightly under his personal best despite the small field of competitors. He was timed in 15:13 and pulled away from Alan Solari of Diablo Valley College who had beaten him last week at the George Brooks Memorial Invitational. Freshman Elijah Melchor (15:42) also took two seconds off his best despite not coming into the race at 100% health. A pair of freshmen in Giancarlo Mendo (15:54) and Alvaro Ruelas (15:54) dipped under 16 minutes in their debut. Juan Gonzalez (16:28) set a personal best in helping freshman Gabriel Clemente Altamirano (16:31) to his debut at the distance. Runnning in a separate heat, freshman Aaron Eldredge (16:57) took the win and had the seventh fastest mark of all those who competed.

Hartnell Men's Results

15:13 Jesse Blanco
15:42 Elijah Melchor
15:54 Giancarlo Mendo
15:54 Alvaro Ruelas
16:28 Juan Gonzalez
16:31 Gabriel Clemente
16:57 Aaron Eldredge
17:00 Leyder Hernandez
17:00 Marcus Serrano
17:01 Ivan Marrtinez-Galindo
17:02 Adrian Hernandez
17:05 Alejandro Hernandez
17:11 Nathan Emerson
17:12 Galen Okamoto
17:14 Carlos Rangel
17:33 Jason Garcia
17:47 Jacob Duff
18:18 Kevin Ramirez
18:34 Omar Quiroz

The Panthers will host the Toro Park Invitational on Friday, October 4th starting at 10am. The Toro Park Invitational will serve as this year's Northern California Championship Preview Meet and is expected to host nearly every program in region.