Women Win Fifth Conference Title to Close Out Decade

For the fifth time in the decade the Hartnell College women's track & field team were victorious at the Coast Conference Championship. Competing at host DeAnza College, the ladies used consistent individual performances in every event to counter the addition of three new teams to this year's competition which included College of the Sequoias, Fresno City College, and Merced College. The ladies had three individual champions in Monica Ruelas, Nina Arias, and Isabelle Torres. The women team scored in every event except the 100 meters and 200 meters to clinch the title and tie the most successful decade since the 1990's. The title repeated their victory from 2018 as they head into the Northern California Championship where they are the defending team champions. 

Sophomore Nina Arias won her first conference title running a consistent pace in the 3k steeplechase as she overcame her teammate Maria Aceves over the final 600 meters. Arias was victorious in 12:41.52, her second best mark in the event. She also scored in the 1500 meters, 800 meters, and Wednesday's 10,000 meters. Monica Ruelas returned to competition action taking the 1500 meter title and setting up a Hartnell top 3 sweep with her 5:02.38. She also placed second in the 800 meters (2:27.13) and third in the 5000 meters (19:33.43). Frosh Isabelle Torres was the iron woman of the meet winning the 5000 meters in 18:57.70 after already placing third in the 10,000 meter Wednesday followed by a second place in the 1500 meters and eighth place in the 800 meters. Anesa Vanderlipe placed third in the pole vault (2.70m) in a season best along with two fifth place finishes in the horizontal jumps. Tyshell Johnson-Hill was third in the shot put and sixth in the hammer throw. Idalys Romero placed fourth in the shot put and fifth in the discus. Shaelynne Smith was fifth in the 100 hurdles in a season best 16.25 that put her top 20 in school history. Dakota Peebles just missed the top 20 list but did run a lifetime best placing fifth in the 400mLH (69.28). 

The Panther women will head into the Northern Californa with multiple qualifiers in field and running trials. Monica Ruelas and Isabelle Torres will represent the distance squad in the 10,000 meter championship final. The Northern California Trials and Finals will be held at Modesto Junior College on Saturday, May 4, and Friday, May 10.