Repeat Team Victory First in History

For just the seventh time in program history the women's track & field team placed in the top three at the Northern California Championship held at Modesto Junior College. Not only did the team place in the top three, the small group of women managed to become the first squad to win back-to-back regional titles. The Hartnell women tallied 89 points to runner-up Sacramento City College with 80 and Yuba College at 68 points. The first team title for women's track & field came in 1997 followed by two consecutive years in the thop three. In 2013 and 2014, the squads placed second and third but could not repeat the feat in 2015. The 2018 and 2019 squads reached the same pinnacle as the 1997 squad and become the first to do so on successive years. Next year's squad could be enjoy the best three year run in program history with a top three finish. With several returners from this year's winning team, expect the Panther women to content for a title in 2020. 

Sophomore Monica Ruelas added to her eight points from the 10,000 meters last week with her first Northern California title. She was the top retuner in the event coming into the season and posted the fastest time in the region with her 4:52 at the Hornet Invitational in March. She won the metric mile race in 5:01 to add 10 points to her tally and was followed by teammate Isabelle Torres in third at 5:02. Torres was third in the 10,000 meter run as well. Freshman Daniela Salazar returned in time from injury to win her first Norcal title in the 800 meters. The former Watsonville standout lead the entire race and crossed the line in a season best 2:18.40. Sophomore Maria Aceves moved up one spot in the steeplechase in her second year taking the silver medal position with a lifetime best 12:10. She was also seventh in the 1500 meters in a lifetime best 5:07 and sixth in the 800 meters at 2:31. Freshman Nerina Campos surprised herself with two personal bests and podium finishes in the 1500 and 800 meters. Campos placed fifth in the 1500 (5:06) and 800 (2:25). Nina Arias placed in every event she contested starting with a fifth in the 3k steeplechase, followed by eighth in 1500, then fourth in the 800 meters. She teammated up with Campos and Salazar and 400mH qualifier Veronica Aguilar to place seventh in the 4x400 relay in a season best 4:08.96. Freshman Shaelynne Smith placed sixth in the 100 hurdles adding three more important team points. She started the scoring for the Panthers with her two points in the earlier contested heptathlon. Anesa Vanderiipe completed her career with a ninth place finish in the long jump and twelft in the javlein. Idalys Romero was fifteenth in the javelin. Sophomore Aguilar was ninth in the 400mH. Freshman Morgan Boesiger will look to return in 2020 after placing twelfth in the shot put.

The 2019 CCCAA State Championship will be held May 17-18 at the College of San Mateo.