Men’s and women’s track and field had an exciting weekend full of impressive times. The men travelled to Santa Barbara, California on Friday to compete in the Westmont Sunshine Open & Combined Events. They then met the women’s team in Claremont, California for the Pomona-Pitzer Collegiate All-Comers. Senior sprinter and hurdler Corry Williams won the heptathlon while freshman thrower and jumper Kendra Sachse won the record-breaking women’s javelin.
STELLAR START
On Friday, the Eagles were led by Williams and senior Nathaniel Belden. Williams won the heptathlon, with a high jump at 1.81 meters and the shot put at 11.89 meters. Belden finished in second place with a 7.28 seconds 60-meter dash and a 6.04-meter long jump.
The two would go into the second day of the meet with the same energy. Williams took first in the hurdles at :08.69 and second in the 1,000-meter run at 3:00.48. Belden finished fourth overall at 3,743 after his :08.74 second place victory in the hurdles. Senior sprinter Noah Strenn finished at No. 16 overall in the men’s 200-meter, a new personal record for Strenn. Sophomore distance runner Joshua Oglesby ran his personal best in the mile, crossing the line at 4:32.85.
EAGLES EXCEL
Sachse led the way for the lady Eagles on day two when she broke records in women’s javelin, shattering an old school record with a toss of 47.65m, nearly 10 meters further than the previous 38.81m throw. Sophomore jumper Rebeka Preston placed in the Top 3 after a :09.54 hurdle race, 5.12m long jump, 1.51m high jump and a brisk time of 2:31.20 in the 800m. Senior sprinter Carissa Kalpakjian brought home second in the women’s 100m at :12.54, and a third place finish in the 200m at :25.47, her personal best.
The Eagles will take some time off before heading back out on the track and field. They will begin a two-day meet at the Long Beach Opener on Friday, March 6 at 12 p.m.
