Panther Men Take Second in Wildcat Cup Return

he pandemic put a halt to a new yearly tradition for the Hartnell College track & field team, competing in the Wildcat Cup. The meet was conceived by the head coaches of several programs who are all lead by graduates of CSU Chico and participated on the team while a student there. With the return of the 2022 version held at Santa Rosa Junior College, new teams were added with Diablo Valley College, Butte College, and College of the Redwoods. The men battled with Norcal powerhouse Modesto Junior College but did not have enough firepower to keep pace with the Pirates. Their efforts were highlighted by three meet records, several post-conference qualifying marks, and many seasonal or lifetime bests.

Freshmen Isaac Gensel, Esteban Deniz, and Francisco Maciel all picked up individual victories along with all three hitting State Auto qualfying marks. Gensel finished first in the 5000m in 15:05.77 to lower the meet record by nearly two minutes. Maciel was a few steps behind in 15:08.32 to also get the State Auto. Maciel won the 3k steeplechase setting a new meet record in 10:11.15. Deniz won the 1500 meters, the only runner to dip under four minutes, with his 3:59.81. Ashton Headley improved on his season best in the discus to 41.19m, inching closer to the State "B". Edgar Martinez lead the hammer throwers with a Norcal Provisional 39.47m just behind Manuel Gallardo who was 40.35m. Zachary Sims is just 0.6cm from qualifying to Norcals with him improved long jump now at 6.39m. The men's 4x400 relay of Jesse Mandujano, Arturo Ponce, Esteban Deniz, and Ramon Duran lowered their season best to 3:33.55 to take third overall. 

The Panthers will split squads this coming weekend with a large contingent focusing on sprints, jumps, and throws at the Jack Albiani Invitational on Friday, March 11th in Modesto. A small group of distance runners will head south to the Occidental Spring Break Distance Carnival on Saturday, March 12th.