Hartnell Men Place Seventh at Norcal Championship

The Hartnell College men's track & field continued their own impressive streak of top finishes with a seventh place team finish at the Northern California Championship. The team was powered by freshman Isaac Gensel's two individual titles and 64 points from just four events. Hartnell College has finished in the top seven teams for the last seven editions of these championships and in the top eight for the last ten. 

After winning the 10,000m title last Friday, Gensel went into the final day's competition hoping for two more titles. The former Monterey High School athlete was able to get one and finish second in the other. Gensel was second in the 1500 meters in 3:57.76 to top ranked Cristian Martinez. Gensel was the only athlete able to cover the final move but ran out of distance to content for the title. In the 5000 meters, he used a strong push with just a little over a lap remaining to secure his final regional title as a Panther. He stopped the clock at 14:45.95, the fastest winning time for a Hartnell runner. Esteban Deniz picked up a third in the 1500 meters and fifth in the 5000 meters making him eligible to compete in all three at the state championship. He will be a heavy favorite in all three races next year. Ricky Diaz III helped the team in the 1500 meters taking the lead and then placing sixth in 4:04.78. 

In the 3000 meter steeplechase, Francisco Maciel lowered his personal best to 9:40.35 to place third in his first ever Norcal Championship. The mark moves him to ninth fastest in Hartnell history. Teammate Daniel Pantoja has enjoyed great first year success following Maciel each race. In this final, Pantoja was fourth in 9:45.38 moving the Greenfield High School graduate into the top 15 all-time. 

Behind Deniz in the 5000 meters, Maciel doubled his day with an eighth place at 15:07.08. Freshman Jose Velaquez ran a significant personal best 15:26.30, achieving the State "B" mark and placed elevent overall. Pantoja ran under 16 minutes for the second time this season at 15:59.22 good for fourteenth. Miguel Leon-Fernandez (16:59.59) and Joshua Riley (17:05.41) also competed and will have the opportunity to return in 2023. 

Freshman Ashton Headley rebounded from no marks in the discus and hammer to place seventh in the shot put at 13.83m/45-4.50. 

The Panthers will travel to Mt. San Antonio College for the second time this season but this time for the 2022 CCCAA State Track & Field Championship. Those scheduled to compete include the following:

Manuel Gallardo (Discus)
Esteban Deniz (1500m, 5000m, 10,000m)
Isaac Gensel (1500m, 5000m)
Ricky Diaz III (10,000m)
Frankie Maciel (3k Steeplechase)
Daniel Pantoja (3k Steeplechase)