Gensel Continues Hartnell Streak in 10k

Heading into the first Northern California Championship since 2019, the Hartnell men's track & field team was well-positiioned to advance several athletes to the state championship on May 20-21 but first would have to compete for regional honors. After two scored events the decathlon and 10,000 meters, the Panthers are leading the 2022 Northern California Championship with 21 points.

In the second scored event the 10,000 meters, the Panthers placed four in the top seven with Isaac Gensel taking the individual crown with a significant personal best of 31:14.20. This was his first 10,000m performance under 32 minutes after running 32:31 at the Norcal Preview Meet and 32:01 last week in the Coast Conference Championship where he was third overall. Gensel's mark is the fifth fastest in program history and second best this season for all Northern California competitors. In this race, he outlasted 30:54 competitor Gulab Singh of American River College to put his name into the history books as Hartnell's fourth consecutive champion in the event. He joins Jorge Sanchez (2017), Ricky Esqueda (2018), and Jesus Avalos (2019) as champions. There was no post-season due to COVID-19 for 2020 and 2021. Francisco Maciel found his best 25 lap performance placing fourth overall in 31:21.88, moving to seventh all-time. Esteban Deniz was fifth in  a personal best 31:25.21, now eighth all-time. Ricky Diaz III is rounding into championship form and was seventh in 32:26.00, good enough to meet the State "A" and assure himself of at least one race at this year's CCCAA State Championship.

Ashton Headley advanced through the prelims in the shot put with a mark of 13.74m/45-1. Manuel Gallardo will compete in his second Norcal Championship Final in the discus after his 41.59m/136-5 trials mark. 

Jesse Mandujano completed his Hartnell career with a 51.04 mark in the 400 meters. He helped the 4x400 relay team to a season best 3:27.97 with Ramon Duran leading off, Arturo Ponce running third, and Marco Espinoza-Morado anchoring. The mark was a three second season best for the quartet. Gallardo was just short of qualifying in the hammer at 39.94m/131-0. Orlando Dorado completed a solid freshman year in the hammer with 37.83m/124-1 along with fellow frosh Andy Ruiz 36.02m/118-2. The men's 4x400 relay team of Felix Martinez, Jesse Mandujano, Eduardo Martinez, and Marco Espinoza-Morado finished the year with a 44.25 performance. Zachary Sims completed his first year in the long jump trials with 5.92m/19-5.25. 

The Panthers will return to Chabot College on Friday, May 13th for the second day of the Northern California Championship.