Watkins Wins Three Events, T&F Teams Finish Third

Watkins Wins Three Events, T&F Teams Finish Third

LOS ANGELES — Chancise Watkins claimed three championships, Lenore Moreno beat Melissa Skiba in the much-anticipated 5,000 meter run, but both the men's and the women's track and field settled for third at the 2014 SCIAC Championships hosted by Occidental at the Bill Henry Track.

Watkins won the 200 meters (21.14 seconds), the 400 meters (47.25) and the 4x100 meters relay (40.84) and set personal records in all three. Watkins' 21.24 in the 200m was also good for new school- and SCIAC records. Both the 400m and the 4x100m times are currently the fastest in Division III this season.

The 200m and the 400m weren't particularly close. Watkins got off to fast starts and built on the lead in each race to run away with the wins. Watkins pulled away in the anchor leg of the 4x100m relay after Nick Gonsalves, Robert Oshodin and James Francis.

Moreno, who set the new SCIAC record in the 5,000m at the Mt. SAC Relays three weeks ago, did not disappoint in what was billed as the most exciting race at the championships. She and defending SCIAC champion Skiba almost immediately separated themselves from the pack and the pair stayed close to each other for about four laps. Moreno then turned on her jets and opened up a sizable lead which she never relinquished. Moreno won the race in 16 minutes, 48.47 seconds and Skiba finished more that forty seconds behind at 17:28.69.

Moreno finished second behind Skiba in the 1,500m with a time of 4:36.10

La Verne got off to a good start on Friday with wins in four field events. Deanna Doss won the hammer with a toss of 160-01 and Matt Rehder won the javelin with a throw of 199.05. Taylor Bernhard and Jason Nicholls swept the pole vault for La Verne with clearances of 11-00.25 and 14-05.50, respectively.

Women's 4x100m relay team of Ebony Williams, Tiahna Gillon, Tanesha Spencer and Nicole Crutchfield got second day off to a good start with a winning time of 47.77.

Gillon, a freshman, became the champion in the 100m with a time of 12.22 and Crutchfield came in third in the event at 12.42.

Francis cleared a 6-05.50 to claim the high jump, the final event of the meet.

Alysse Thummel set a new school record in the 800m with a third place time of 2:17.79.

Bryan Hayes finished second

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps won the men's championship and Cal Lutheran took home the women's crown.

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