By Tadzio Garcia
Seventeen Huskies were on fire, posting their best results of the season last Saturday, at the Pasadena Relays as the track and field team continues to ride a wave of strength.
East Los Angeles College posted top-notch results at Pasadena City College while competing on a semi-dark cloudy day.
The top marks that were posted will help them climb to the top-100 community college statewide individual rankings.
Highlighting ELAC’s efforts were the one-two punch in the women’s high jump and Royal Walker’s triple jump title, which provided two additional top-10 statewide marks.
Shawna Barnes cleared 5’ 5” at PCC, grabbing onto second place while leaping to the fourth-best women’s high jump in the state.
It felt good all the way,” said Barnes. “I am proud to be a Husky and glad I could bring home this amazing result.”
In a display of Husky team camaraderie, Jill Schmidt leapt for joy, cheering and supporting Barnes.
I was so excited,” said Schmidt, “and celebrated so much that I almost forgot I was competing too.”
Schmidt continue do jumping – all the way to the high jump crown.
Schmidt held onto the top women’s high jump in the state with her 5’ 7” leap, which she matched in her last three meets.
Schmidt remains undefeated this season.
Walker’s triple jump feat of 46 1/2 feet put him on the community college map with the 10th best jump in the state.
Coach David Loera trains us in a competitive atmosphere while also working on our technique, which has helped me improve a lot” said Walker.
I had fun at PCC, and my first jump was my best,” said Walker.
Huskies that also posted their best results of the season on the men’s team included Aaron Williams, men’s shot put, who bested his previous top mark by 2 1/3 feet.
Walker and Rob Felton, long jump, and Ricardo Navarro, 400 meter hurdles, all bested their previous top marks.
The entire Husky green machine of 800 meter runners, Noel Barrera, Michael Vallejo, Alan Alcatraz, Jose Lopez, Carlos Segovia, Marcos Lopez and Enrique Baez, all posted their best times of the year Huskies from the women’s team who posted their best results of the season at PCC included CASs Atoned and Veronica Playa, high jump, Raquel Acosta, shot put and Johanna Déjà, 1,500 run.
Noël Barrera placed third overall in the men’s 800-meter run at Pecan in the process moved up from the No. 95 to the No. 81 fastest time in the state.
The Huskies wind down with their final meets of the season beginning with the prestigious Me. Sam Antonio College Relays all day Saturday at Mt. SAC