LA VERNE – The University of La Verne track and field teams hosted its first tri meet this weekend at the Ortmayer Stadium.
The Leopards were hit with rain, wind, and sunshine, but that still did not stop them from competing. Although Mother Nature was not in their control, their ability to push through was and the Leopards did just what they needed to do to get the job done.
The men's 4x100 relay team ran well and secured a 1st place spot with a time of 42.42 seconds. Anchor runner Chancise Watkins had two individual 1st place finishes in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.03 seconds and in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.53 seconds. Teammate Robert Oshodin took 2nd place in the 200-meter dash running a time of 22.61 seconds.
The women's 4x100 team also continued its winning streak running a time of 49.60 seconds. Ebony Williams had a strong performance in the 100-meter dash sprinting a time of 12.71 seconds and in the 200-meter dash she ran a time of 26.33 seconds. Her teammates Tiahana Gillion and Alexa Smith showed their speed in the 100 meter-dash and in the 200-meter dash. Gillion took 2nd in the 100-meter dash running 12.71 seconds and Smith took 2nd in the 200-meter dash running 26.56 seconds.
It was a nail biting finish for Khayree Jones in the 400-meter-dash, coming in 2nd with a time of 50.94 seconds.
Taylor Bernhard, Katie Yeager, and Taylor Schulze all pulled out a 1-2-3 win for La Verne. Yeager had a first place finish of 11-5.75 (3.50m). Bernhard came in second place with a vault of 10-11.75 (3.35m). Schulze was not far behind Bernhard taking third place vaulting 10-6 (3.20m).
Throwers and jumpers continued with strong performances on the field.
Deanna Doss had three first place wins in the shot put (35-2.50, 10.73m), in the discuss throw (114-3.25, 34.82m), and in the hammer throw (162-5, 49.50m). Right behind her in second place for the shot put and discuss throw was teammate, Jaclyn Castleberry. Castleberry threw the shot put 33-1.75 (10.10m) and threw the discuss 102-11.25 (31.37m). Christiana Coughlin had a javelin throw of 105-10.25 (32.26m), which was good for first place.
Lindsey Foster had a first place jump in the long jump of 17-4 (5.28m).
On the men's side, Chris Gura was 1st in the discus with a throw of 155-11.50 (47.53m) and Andrew Carrasco was 3rd in the hammer throw (1361-7.75, 40.12m). Matthew Rehder was 1st in the javelin with a throw of 162-7 (49.55m)
Jacob Lopez, Stewart Mckenzie, Art Hinojosa, and Nicholas Vasquez all took; first, third, fifth, and sixth place spots in the triple jump. Lopez jumped (44-0.75, 13.43m), Mckenzie jumped (41-10.75, 12.77m), Hinojosa jumped (40-6, 12.34m), and Vasquez jumped (39-8.75, 12.11m).
The La Verne men's and women's track and field team will compete in their first SCIAC quad meet of the season on March 8 at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
