U of R Track & Field Fires off Quality Marks at SCIAC Multi-Dual No. 3

U of R Track & Field Fires off Quality Marks at SCIAC Multi-Dual No. 3

The University of Redlands track & field teams hosted the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Multi-Dual Meet No. 3 on Ashel Cunningham Track inside of Ted Runner Stadium on this blustery Saturday.  With strong showings throughout the meet, the Bulldog women captured wins over Whittier College (124-35), Occidental College (86-77), and Caltech (137-9), while the Redlands men earned a 96-40 victory over Whittier and a 106-40 triumph over Caltech but lost to Occidental, 52-110.

Overall, the team combined for 14 first-place finishes at the meet.

For the women, junior Alison Smith (McKinleyville, CA) got things started on the track with her winning time of 14.70 in the 100 Hurdles, while sophomore Courtney Crain (Happy Valley, OR) took second with a time of 15.89. 

Smith also anchored the top 4x100 Relay of Crain, junior Jasmine Ramos (Santa Fe Springs, CA), and freshman Kara Romani (Sacramento, CA) that crossed the finish line in 48.89.

Redlands continued to roll with sophomore Kaylee Jorgensen's (Claremont, CA) first-place time of 2:21.71 in the 800 Meters, while senior Lauren Roberts (Portland, OR) took care of business in the 5000 Meters with the fastest time of the meet at 18:43.02.

Highlighting the field events, senior Kylie Scott (Snohomish, WA) registered a gold-medal showing in the Shot Put with a career-best heave of 35' 4".  Smith closely followed in second place by registering a toss of 35' 2". 

Scott also fired off a second-place mark in the Hammer Throw with a distance of 114' 5".

Sophomore Mandy Widen (Vail, AZ) continued to shine in the Pole Vault by winning that event with a height of 11' 5 ¾", while sophomore Vanessa Blanchard (Palmdale, CA) cleared a career-best mark of 5' 6 ½" to take home the gold in the High Jump.

Romani impressed with first-place showings in the Long Jump (17' 8 ¼") and the Triple Jump (33' 8 ¾").

For the men, sophomore Afari La-Anyane (Morgan Hill, CA) ran a winning time of 15.51 in the 110 Hurdles during the first track event of the day.  Seniors Nathan Meier (Riverside, CA) and Ian Lee (Las Vegas, NV) teamed up in the 3000 Meter Steeplechase for a solid 1-2 punch with respective times of 10:09.78 and 10:16.93. 

Senior Joey Colucci (San Jose, CA) and junior Myles Speegle (Castro Valley, CA) ran season-best times of 10.69 and 10.77 in the 100 Meters, finishing first and third, respectively.  The duo also impressed in the 200 Meters with career-best showings amidst a very fast race, as Colucci uncorked a time of 21.40 and Speegle crossed the finish line in 21.55.

Sophomore Sean Unger (Carlsbad, CA) and junior Alonzo Washington (Clovis, CA) combined efforts in the 800 to take first and second with respective times of 1:59.92 and 2:00.27.

In addition, freshman Nick Burchett (Gold River, CA) improved upon his career-best time in the 400 Hurdles by completing the race in 54.74 for second place.

Freshman Michael Sahagun (Rosemead, CA) registered the Bulldogs' only event-win in the field events with his first-place effort in the Discus Throw that landed at a distance of 132' 7".  He also took second in the Javelin Throw with a toss of 146' 1".

Redlands looks forward to preparing for the upcoming SCIAC Championships, which take place on Friday, April 29, and Saturday, April 30, at Occidental College in Eagle Rock.