The University of Redlands men's and women's track & field teams embarked upon the 2017 season on Friday and Saturday by competing in the Mountain T Invitational at Northern Arizona University. Amidst the open division, the Bulldogs started the year off well by putting together a variety of quality marks in different events.
For the women, junior Vanessa Blanchard (Palmdale, CA) picked up right where she left off in 2016 by clearing a height of 5' 3" in the High Jump for fifth place. Senior Caitlin Nardi (San Diego, CA) closely followed at 4' 11' for ninth in that event.
Junior Mandy Widen (Vail, AZ) also continued her previous success in the Pole Vault with a season-opening height of 11' 5 ¾" to take third. Freshman Gabi Gould (Bellingham, WA) made her collegiate debut a memorable one by clearing 10' for fifth place.
Senior Alison Smith (McKinleyville, CA), freshman Jessica Fields (Las Vegas, NV), and freshman Keren Lee (Poway, CA) teamed up for great competition in the 60 Hurdles. Smith fired off a time of 9.05 to finish third in the finals. Fields improved upon her prelim time to complete the race in 9.08 for fourth place, while Lee uncorked a seventh-place effort in 9.84.
Senior Jasmine Ramos (Santa Fe Springs, CA) registered respective times of 8.17 and 26.74 in the 60 and 200 meters. Junior Sophie Brooks (Seattle, WA) also competed in those events and produced marks of 8.44 and 27.83. Fields added a time of 27.73 in the 200 in her first collegiate meet.
Finally, Smith, sophomore Kara Romani (Sacramento, CA), and freshman Chyenne Kimble (Big Bear Lake, CA) all competed in the Pentathlon with solid results. Smith took first in the 60 Hurdles (9.05), High Jump (4' 9 ¾"), and Shot Put (38' 1 ½"). Romani topped the competition in the Long Jump with a leap of 17' 6 ¾", while Kimble showed her strength in the 800 Meters with a time of 2:37.21.
For the men, freshmen Mykel Campos (Dinuba, CA) and Cooper Adamo (Bakersfield, CA) impressed as rookie competitors by taking second and third, respectively, in the open Long Jump. Campos registered a distance 22' 4 ½", as Adamo produced a mark of 22' 3 ¾".
The Bulldogs' success continued in the Shot Put, as sophomore Matthew Hayashi (Hacienda Heights, CA) and senior Sam Yaeger (Mission Viejo, CA) teamed up for third and fourth place, respectively. Hayashi uncorked a toss of 42' 3 ¼", while Yaeger closely followed at 40' 4 ¼".
On the track, sophomore Luke Bohlinger (Mercer Island, WA) led off great representation by the Bulldogs in the 200 Meters with his third-place time of 22.47. Senior Myles Speegle (Castro Valley, CA) finished the race in 22.74 for fifth place, with sophomore Nick Burchett (Gold River, CA) crossing the line right behind him in sixth at 22.85. Finally, freshman Jordan Washecheck (Tulsa, OK) added an eighth-place time of 23.13, while freshman Carlos Ruiz (Taos, NM) took 10th with a time of 23.23.
Speegle, Bohlinger, and Burchett also excelled in the 60 Meters, with times ranging from 7.17 to 7.31.
Redlands returns to Flagstaff on Friday, February 17, for the NAU Tune-Up, while others from the teams will compete in the Pomona-Pitzer All-Comers on Saturday, February 18.