Occidental Trip Produces State Marks

After a windy Friday afternoon in Santa Maria, seven Hartnell women's track & field athletes continued down Highway 101 to Eagle Rock for the Occidental College Spring Break Classic/Distance Carnival. The meet, which is attended by both four and two year colleges, produced three State "A" marks, a State "B" and two additional season bests making the additional distance away from Salinas worthwhile. 

Sophomore Roselyn Olivo got her State "A" in the 1500 meters by running 4:50.61, nearly five seconds faster than last year at the meet. She would double back in the 5,000 meters with a time of 18:42.26 which also achieved the State "A". Sophomore Jimena Hernandez-Tejeda took over 20 seconds off her season debut from February 14th in the 3k Steeplchase to get her State "A" in an event she picked up last year. Her time of 12:24.75 is a personal best by two seconds. She will look to return to the 3C2A State Championship this May. Taylan Flower is also in her second year of a new event, the triple jump. Flower pushed her personal best out to 10.67m to meet the State "B" mark but it is also the current fifth best mark in the state. Flower also cleared 1.42m in the high jump. Freshman Jenna Emerson doubled 15.98 in the 100m hurdles for her second sub 16 clocking so far this season and added a 10.45m in the triple jump. Freshman Janai Orozco lowered her 1500m season best to 5:11.12 and debuted in the 5000 meters (19:42.83). Marissa Avelar-Hernandez competed in the hammer throw (37.85m) with Isolina Mittelsteadt Barrett in the discus (32.49m). 

The Panthers will head north to the Pat Ryan Invitational/Multi-Event on Thursday-Friday, March 13-14. This will give the Panthers their first shot at achieving the state qualifying marks in the heptathlon and decathlon.