Frosh Salazar Sizzles at Hot Coyote Challenge
September 23, 2018
The Lady Panthers went in search of a difficult challenge in their schedule with a trip to the CSU San Bernadino Coyote Challenge. In the women's 5k race, teams from all levels toed the line ranging from NCAA DII host CSUSB to DIII Claremont Mudd-Scripps to community college programs like Glendale College. In a field of over 260 women, the Lady Panthers had difficulty finding their training and racing partners but still managed to finish close enough together to place second among community college teams and ninth overall for all divisions. The Lady Panthers bested NCAA DII teams from Hawaii-Hilo and CSU Los Angeles along with several others.
Frosh Daniela Salazar (Watsonville HS) recorded a lifetime best 18:42 over the 5k layout to average under 6:00 for the first time in her career. She placed 32nd overall and fourth for community college women just 8 seconds from second place. Monica Ruelas (Gilroy HS) ran her first race ever in her career under 19:00 with room to spare at 18:50. Sophomore Arlene Diaz Leal (Alvarez HS) improved significantly since two weeks ago enjoying her fastest race since her all-Norcal race last November in 19:20. Lauryn Orozco (Soledad HS) ran faster than her state championship time (19:29) with eight weeks to improve upon it. Maria Aceves (Notre Dame HS) showed consistency with her second consecutive sub 20:00 race in a lifetime best 19:48. IsabelleTorres (19:54) of Salinas High School and Nerina Campos (20:10) from Everett Alvarez High School almost ran the whole race together helping both to lifetime bests. The Lady Panthers competed without seventh runner Nina Arias who will return for the Toro Park Invitational.
