Hartnell Men Place Second at Coast Conference

Despite not having a track to regularly train on all season, the Hartnell men's track & field team managed a solid second place team finish at the Coast Conference Championship held at Laney College in Oakland. The Panthers tallied 193 points to finish just 31 points behind winner De Anza College and 53.5 points ahead of Monterey Peninsula College who was third. The Panthers had six individual winners lead by double victories for Julian Vargas and Moises Benito. Ethan Lavina won his second consecutive triple jump title and Javin Niar won his first title in the pole vault. 

Freshman Julian Vargas won the first title of the meet for the Panthers taking the 10,000 meter title in 30:45.02. This was his third 25 lap race under 31 minutest this season. He would double back the second day at Laney College to win the 5000 meters in 14:59.57, a 10 second cushion over second place. Teammate Moises Benito picked the 1500 meter win in 3:57.17 and doubled back in the 800 meters to run 1:55.34 for the victory. The latter performance moved Benito on to the all-time 800m list in Hartnell history. Ethan Lavina won the triple jump with a mark of 14.19m, a lifetime best. Javin Niar took the pole vault title with a clearance of 4.10m. Niar is still chasing the State "A" mark with two meets remaining. 

Panthers who placed second in the silver medal position included Benito in the 5000 meters, Andy Ruiz in the hammer (46.37m), Lavina in the long jump (6.94m), 

Bronze medal Panthers were Jose Cota in the 800 meters (1:59.05), Remse Pamintuan in the hammer (43.50m), Vargas at 1500 meters (4:00.58), and Mario Avila in the 10,000 meters (33:23.08). 

The Panthers will compete next in the Northern California Championship scheduled for May 3-4 at American River College.