Villegas Shines Under Lights at Chabot Twilight

Heading into the Chabot Twilight Meet, Andrea Villegas had won three consecutive meets by a large margin. Her performance at Woodward Park was nearly 50 seconds faster than she ran as a freshman in 2021. She would win the Monterey Bay Invitational by 70 seconds and the Norcal Preview Meet by 50 seconds but she remained uncertain as to where her fitness really stood. After circling the Chabot College track twelve and a half times, Villegas learned she is the second fastest woman in Hartnell history at 5000m and trails only Malena Grover, the third place 3C2A State Championship finisher in 2015. 

Villegas, who prepped at North Monterey County High School, only needed 17:39.86 to run the 5000m. This was 47 seconds faster than her time in track season just 9 months earlier. She becomes just the fourth woman in Hartnell history to eclipse the 18 minute barrier. She finished 70 seconds ahead of teammate Roselyn Olivo who also enjoyed a terrific 5000m debut. Her time of 18:49.4 put the Everett Alvarez graduate on the all-time list as one of the few to have run under 19 minutes. She finished 27 and 29 seconds ahead of her competitors. 

In the accompanying 3000 meter race, freshman Jimena Hernandez narrowly missed winning her first race as a Panther. She was timed in 11:33.1, less than one second from defeating unattached runner Medha Gowda. Maria Garcia ran a personal best in 11:51 with freshman Alexandra Campos running 12:02 in her first track race longer than one lap. Isabella Rocha (12:27) ran her best race of the season with Lapis Hernandez (12:33) and Isabelle Rocha (12:47) all within the same 100 meters at the finish. Dominique Cervantes-Samudio (12:46), Jade Pimentel (12:59) and Angelina Ybarra (13:15) also competed. The women's team won 21 to 40 over Santa Rosa Junior College in the 3000m without Villegas and Olivo. 

Hartnell 3000m Results

11:33.1 Jimena Hernandez (Fr.)
11:51.3 Maria Garcia (So.)
12:02.6 Alexandra Campos (Fr.)
12:27.7 Isabella Rocha (Fr.)
12:33.8 Lapis Hernandez (So.)
12:42.9 Isabelle Rocha (Fr.)
12:46.5 Dominique Cervantes-Samudio (Fr.)
12:59.5 Jade Pimentel (So.)
13:15.7 Angelina Ybarra (Fr.)

Hartnell 5000m Results

17:39.9 Andrea Villegas (So.)
18:49.4 Roselyn Olivo (Fr.)