Fourth Norcal Title for Hartnell Women
In 2018 and 2019, the Hartnell College women celebrated winning two consecutive Northern California women's team titles. As the Panther women were looking to 2020, the global COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to all community college athletics for all of 2020 and nearly all of 2021. When the Hartnell women re-emerged in 2022, they found themselves once again at the top of the regional rankings to join Sacramento City College as the only other program to ever win three consecutive team titles. Forward to last Friday at Yuba College, the Hartnell women used a well-balanced attack across multiple events to win a historic fourth Northern California team title. The Panthers tallied a remarkable 167.5 points, nearly 30 more than they scored in 2021. The point total is the highest since American River College scored 181 points to win the title in 2011. A total of three Hartnell women were also crowned Northern California Champions in Andrea Villegas (10,000m), Katelyn Strader (Hammer), and Ashley Ochoa (Steeplechase).
With Villegas taking the victory last week in the 10,000 meter final, the final day of competition kicked off with sophomoore Katelyn Strader winning the hammer throw with a mark of 49.90m/163-9 which was a personal best and moves her into the top two in Hartnell history just behind teammate Isabella Reimann. Reimann placed second with a throw of 48.78m/160-0. Both will advance to the 3C2A State Championship as the top two seeds in the competition. Freshman Grace Padron finished her season with an outstanding eighth place finish and lifetime best 38.03m/124-9. Strader would also place second in the discus throw with a mark of 38.47m/126-2 which was leading the competition until the final throw. Reimann was fourth at 34.88m/114-5. Padron added two points with her throw of 33.87m/111-1.
Sophomore Ashley Ochoa missed most of the end of March and early April to peroneal tendonitis but is slowly returning to form after winning her second consecutive Coast Conference title in the 3k steeplechase. At the Northern California Championship, she handled the heat and another rematch with Mia Tarkington of De Anza College to win in 12:59.72 and become Hartnell's first ever two-time champion in the event. Ilianna Martinez nearly stole a bronze medal but managed to secure a fourth place finish in the steeplechase in 13:46.83. Sofia Camacho added two second place finishes to help the team point total. She was second in the 1500 meters (4:47.26) and 800 meters (2:19.41). She was also fourth in the 5000 meters (19:55.30). Andrea Villegas picked up a fourth place finish in the 1500 meters (4:52.33), fifth in the 800 meters (2:22.95) and third in the 5000 meters (19:41.74). Ochoa doubled back in the 1500 meters to place seventh (5:11.35) and also ran the 5000 meters (20:04.51) to place sixth. Freshman Dominique Cervantes-Samudio was sixth in her first ever Norcal Championship 800 meter final (2:23.69).
Aaliyah Carreras nearly stole a 200 meter title running 24.75, the second fastest time in Hartnell history, despite a hamstring injury suffered in the 100 meters. She was fourth in the 100 meters at 12.02. Roxana Ruelas repeated her runner-up finish in the 400mLH from 2022 with her 66.25 in the this year's final. Freshman Daisy Macias took nearly two seconds off her 400mLH best (68.56) to place fifth in her first championship. Isabella Reimann competed in the 100mH final and recorded her fastest time of the season (15.66) to place fifth overall. The 4x100 relay team to Clodine Tabernilla, Aaliyah Carreras, Roxana Ruelas, and Daisy Macias finished fourth in a season best 49.30 to advance to state. Tabernilla, Ruelas, Sofia Camacho, and Andrea Villegas made sure the 4x400 advanced to the final competition with a fourth place finish (4:11.56).
Lorraine Mankins came within one attempt of repeating her Northern California title in the pole vault. Mankins did have a consolation of clearing 3.55m/11-7.75 for the first time in her career. She would place second overall and head to her second state championship. Mankins also jumped 10.57m/34-8.25 in the triple jump but only place seventh based on second best jump distance. Competing in the high jump, Mercedes Rosales-Rivera tied for fifth with a State "B" mark 1.50m/4-11, a lifetime best. Isabella Reimann was eighth (1.45m/4-9) and Daisy Macias cleared 1.40m/4-7 to place ninth.
Also competing were Jade Pimentel (800/5000), Ana Martinez (5000) and Ilianna Martinez (5000) to round out the championship performances.
The Panthers will now head to Modesto Junior College for the third time this season to compete in the 2023 3C2A State Track & Field Championship to be held Friday-Saturday, May 19-20.
