Vargas Norcal Champion to Lead Panthers

The Panthers tallied nine podium finishes to place sixth overall as a team at the 2024 Northern Cailfornia Championship at American River College. Hartnell was lead by freshman Julian Vargas and sophomore Moises Benito who accounted for six top 8 finishes. Sophomore Javin Niar grabbed  second place finish in the pole vault as well. 

Vargas, who set the Hartnell College 10,000 meter record early in the season, lead the 25 lap race wire-to-wire to victory in 31:18.46 on Friday night. He would return 24 hours later to place fifth in the 1500 meters (4:04.11) and fourth in the 5000 meters (15:20.12). Benito would attempt to the win the 1500 meters but fall short in fourth (3:59.96) but returned for a solid fourth in the 800 meters (1:56.72). He would cap his second Northern California Championship with a near victory in the 5000 meters (15:10.98). Mario Avila placed sixth in the 10,000 meters (32:24.37) to earn a trip to the State Championship. Kaimana Cantere placed seventh in the 3k steeplechase for the second consecutive year (10:08.27). 

Andy Ruiz placed tenth in the discus throw with a personal best 38.59m. Joshua Shimoda was eleventh in the javelin (45.65m) but should advance to the state championship having already achieved the State "A" mark earlier in the season. 

The Panthers were without sophomore jumper Ethan Lavina who was ranked first in the triple jump and fourth in the long jump. Lavina suffered a hamstring injury at the Coast Conference Championship ans was unable to compete.

Moises Benitos, Julian Vargas, Mario Avila, and Joshua Shimoda will represent the Panthers at the 3C2A State Championship May 17-18, at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA.