Panther Women Lose Close "Duel" Meet

After eighteen scored events, this year's Hartnell vs De Anza "Duel" Meet came down to an "all of nothing" 4x400 relay. Unfortunately the Hartnell College women could not match the Mountain Lion's meet record 4:07.51 that would give them a one point advantage 77 to 76 and their fifth win in the series. The Hartnell women had lead for nearly the entire meet until the Mountain Lions began to battle back through the final five events. The Panthers did enjoy several indivdiual victories and a meet record by Jenna Emerson in the 400m low hurdles.

Sophomore Roselyn Olivo did her best by winning three events. Olivo started her day with a win in the 1500 meters in 4:59.13. She would follow that with a two second victory over teammate Janai Orozco in the 800 meters 2:28.08 to 2:30.52. Her final victory was the most thrilling with the Alvarez grad recording a 3000m personal best in 10:44.70, a time that ranks her third in Northern California and top 10 in the state. Orozco was second in the 1500 meters in a lifetime best 5:03.91. The duo along with Emerson and Emily Orozco finished the day with a 4:15.47 in the 4x400 to close out the meet. Emerson set a new meet record in the 400 meter hurdles (66.72) edging Coast Conference #1 Kaylin Mootz. Sophomore Taylan Flower had a personal best in the 100mH (17.20). Freshman Dominayah Black on her first high jump competition with a clearance of 1.50m. Belle Caasi was tops for the Panthers in the shot put (8.91m) with Isolina Mittelsteadt Barrett leading in the discus (34.13m). Marissa Avelar-Hernandez (37.08m) remained the top Hartnell women in the hammer and Arianna Cabrera-Noriega as well in the javelin (26.19m). Cristal Baeza debuted in the 3k steeplechase in 13:45.09.

The Panthers will return to action on a busy weekend March 28-19 competing at both the Ocean vs Valley Meet and West Coast Relays.