All Entries in the "Track & Field" Category

TRACK AND FIELD: Women finish in 11th place at nationals

Compiled from PCC press releases

The Pima Community College track and  field team closed its season at the NJCAA National Tournament in Levelland, Texas on May 17 as the women’s team finished in 11th place with 19 points. The men’s team finished in 25th with a team score of six points.

Jodine Steemers finished the 5,000 meters race in 6th place with a time of 19 minutes, 56.29 seconds. Steemers had earned All-American honors for her 2nd place finish in the 10,000 meters race on May 15. Anaiz Zamorano took 7th place in the 400 hurdles event with a time of 1:06.18.

Antonio Jeter also earned All-American honors in the tournament. Jeter won his honor in the triple jump event by placing 3rd with a jump of 48 feet, 11 and a-half inches.

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The Region I Tournament at Mesa Community College concluded May 3 with the Pima track and field team claiming four more region championships, securing two new national qualifying times and having its best finish in over a decade.

The women’s team finished in second place in team competition with a score of 197. Central Arizona College took first with 295. That’s the best finish for the women’s team since 2001.

Jamie Shrader won the region championship in the 1500 meters race with a time of 4 minutes, 58.80 seconds. The Aztecs scored 25 points in that event as they posted four finishers in the top six placements.

Jodine Steemers took first place in the 5000 meters race with a time of 19:20.6.

Shelby Slocum and Heidi Lopez took 4th and 5th place respectively and both finished with national qualifying times. Slocum finished at 2:20.6 and Lopez was at 2:21.4.

In men’s competition, Antonio Jeter won the triple jump region championship finishing with a jump of 49-feet, 9-inches. The Aztecs place three finishers in the top six spots. Lucas Ruiz won the 1500 meters region championship with a time of 3:57.8. The team finished tied for fourth place.

The Aztecs will take 27 student-athletes to the NJCAA National Championships held in South Plains, Texas, on May 15-17.

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By MEGYN FITZGERALD

The Pima Community College track and field team claimed three Region I titles on May 1 at Mesa Community College.

Janie Featherstone jumped 5 feet, 5 inches to claim the women’s high jump regional championship. The finish improved her nationals-qualifying jump.

Alice Odu claimed the long jump title and earned a nationals spot with a 17-10 3/4.

Esther Estrada also earned a spot at nationals by winning the regional championship in the 10000-meter race with a time of 44 minutes, 8 seconds.

Kelsey Montano, Shelby Slocum, Heidi Lopez and Jamie Shrader improved their nationals-qualifying time in the 4×800 meter relay with a time of 9:31.8.

The regional tournament’s final day was May 3. Results were not available at press time, but will be posted at aztecpressonline.com.

During regional competition in Mesa on April 24, Pima snagged several first-place spots.

Sophomore Megan Wright scored first in both the javelin (31.64 meters) and high jump (4-11). She also placed second in the heptathlon with a score of 3,952.

Freshman Danielle Hawley took first place in both the shot put with a throw of 10.11 meters and the 800-meter race with a time of 2:32.67.

Freshman Jarell Betton took fifth place in the men’s decathlon with a score of 5,469.

More national qualifiers and personal bests highlighted Pima’s April 21 trip to the Beach Invitational in Long Beach, Calif.

The women’s 4×400 meter relay team of freshmen Rachel Blake, Slocum, Aly Haskell and sophomore Anaiz Zamorano qualified for nationals and achieved a personal best time of 4:01.91.

Zamorano also improved her time in the 400-hurdles with a 64.56 finish.

In the 3000-meter steeplechase, Montano improved her national-qualifying mark and achieved a personal best with a time of 11:40.93.

Lopez also achieved a personal best when she qualified in the 5000-meter race with a time of 18:56.1.

For the men, freshman David-Michael Scott ran a qualifying time of 15:37 in the 5000 meters

Meanwhile, fellow freshman Lucas Ruiz improved his time for the same race with a 15:09.2 effort.

The nationals will take place May 15-17 in South Plains, Texas.

Odu leaps and bounds ahead

By MEGYN FITZGERALD

The future looks bright for Pima Community College sophomore track and field star Alice Odu.

With nationally recognized long and triple jump abilities and a contagious personality, Odu is a shoe-in for the outdoor national championships.

“She’s a great person,” head coach Greg Wenneborg said. “The second you meet her, you like her.”

Previously a basketball player, Odu has been involved in track and field since the seventh grade. She continues to put unparalleled efforts into bettering her abilities.

“I’m just happy that a young lady like Alice, after working so hard, is seeing results,” Wenneborg said.

Even though she qualified for nationals on March 10 with a triple jump distance of 38-10 1/4, she isn’t slowing down.

A typical practice for Odu begins at 3:30 p.m. and doesn’t end until 7:30 p.m. Highlights include stretching, 70 sit-ups, 45 push-ups, 450 calf-raises, lots of running, an hour of jumping drills and a trip to the weight room.

She spends most of her time in the weight room doing squats. Since her freshman year, Odu has improved from being able to squat 135 pounds to squatting 265.

“During practice she always has a smile on her face unless she is running 250-meter repeats,” assistant coach Chad Harrison jokingly said. “Alice is a great kid. One that I enjoy coaching.”

It has become a post-competition tradition for Odu and Harrison to share a bag of beef jerky and talk about her jumps, how well she did and where she can improve.

Odu hopes to use her success at Pima, both in track and in the classroom, to transfer somewhere that will help her achieve her goal of becoming a pediatric nurse. She also hopes to move out of Tucson.

“I like Tucson and all my family lives in Tucson, but I would like to move to Dallas, Texas,” she said.

Odu is currently ranked 10th all-time in the long jump and fourth in the triple jump at Pima.

“I will miss her when she’s gone,” Harrison said. “She has done wonders for our track program.”

In her spare time, Odu enjoys reading, listening to R&B music and dancing.

“Well, I’m African, so I’m really good at African dance,” Odu said.

Photo by Leftrick Herd

TRACK & FIELD: 25 Aztecs qualify for nationals

By MEGYN FITZGERALD

The Pima Community College track and field team ended its regular season with 13 women and 12 men qualified for nationals.

The Aztecs participated in the third and final ACCAC conference meet of the outdoor season at Mesa Community College on April 13.

In the five-way dual meet, the women finished the season with a record of 12-3.

Freshman Kami Humphrey qualified for nationals in the high jump with a leap of 5 feet, 3 inches.

Freshman Jania Featherstone took first place in the event with a jump of 5-7. Sophomore Anaiz Zamorano earned second place in the 400 hurdles with a time of 1 minute, 04.57 seconds.

The men finished the season with a record of 8-7.

Sophomore Antonio Jeter took second place in the triple jump with a leap of 47-6. Sophomore Justin Chambers finished second in the long jump with a jump of 22-5.

While competing in the Mesa Community College Classic Invitational on April 6, Pima athletes hit four more national qualifying marks and racked up two first-place finishes.

Freshman Lucas Ruiz finished first in the 1500-meter race with a time of 3:57.53. The team of freshmen Alfonso Avitla, Lance Ross, Patrick Yonas and sophomore Demitri Hayes took first in the 4×100 relay with a time of 42.08.

On April 6, while competing in the Mesa Community College Classic Invitational, Pima athletes hit four more national qualifying marks and racked up two first-place finishes.

Freshman Lucas Ruiz finished first in the 1500-meter race with a time of 3 minutes, 57.53 seconds. The team of freshmen Alfonso Avitla, Lance Ross, Patrick Yonas and sophomore Demitri Hayes took first in the 4×100 relay with a time of 42.08.

For the women, freshmen Heidi Lopez, Kelsey Montano and Jamie Shrader finished third, fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 1500-meter race, earning their qualifying marks in the event.

The Aztecs will travel to Cerritos, Calif., for the Beach Invitational on April 20 and 21.

Track and Field: Aztecs set records at indoor nationals

By MEGYN FITZGERALD

The Pima Community College men’s and women’s track and field teams broke more school records at the final indoor meet of the season, the NJCAA Indoor National Championships in Charleston, Ill., on March 2-3.

The meet brought the number of records set this season to 11.

Both teams did well in the distance medley event.

The men’s team of freshmen Aren Maxwell, Adam Clawson, Lindon Claridge and Lucas Ruiz, finished in fourth place with a time of 10 minutes and 25.76 seconds.

Meanwhile, the women’s freshman team of Kelsey Montano, Aly Haskell, Shelby Slocum and Heidi Lopez set a Pima                         record with a time of 13:04.67.

Mario Portillo also set a Pima school record in the 5000-meter race with a time of 15:33.36.

Overall, the women finished in 18th place, while the men took 19th.

The Aztecs will compete again on March 10 at 10 a.m. when the first ACCAC conference meet comes to Pima’s West Campus.

ON DECK

March 10: ACCAC Conference Meet, PCC West Campus, 10 a.m.
March 16-17: Willie Williams Invitational, University of Arizona, 4 p.m./9 a.m.

Photo By Leftrick Herd

Photo By Leftrick Herd

Aztecs continue to set new Pima records

By MEGYN FITZGERALD

The Pima Community College men’s and women’s track and field teams continued to produce national qualifying marks and break school records Feb. 17 and 18 at the Central Arizona Relays in Coolidge.

“If things come together like I hope they will, we’ll do great at nationals,” head coach Greg Wenneborg said. “We already have multiple qualifiers.”

Sophomore Jodine Steemers set a new school record in the 3000-meter race when she finished with a time of 11 minutes, 14.42 seconds.

Freshman Kelsey Montano also set a new school record in the 1000-meter run with a time of 3:12.87, earning her a national championship qualifying mark.

Sophomore Anaiz Zamorano took second place in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:06.39, a personal best.

Sophomore Christopher Howard secured his top-10 spot in the shot put national rankings with a throw of 49-5 3/4.

In the 3000-meter race, freshman Lucas Ruiz and sophomore Mario Portillo both produced national qualifying marks for their finishing times of 8:49.57 seconds and 8:51.13, respectively.

The teams set three new school records at the Glendale CC Indoor Invitational on Feb. 11.

Ruiz won the 800 and 1500-meter races, setting a new Pima record with his time of 4:02.1 in the 1,500.

Sophomore Alice Odu was undefeated in the long jump until Feb. 18. Although she came in second, she set a new season-best with a distance of 17-7. Freshman Aly Haskell finished second in the 200-meter race, breaking a Pima record set in 2001 by Yulianna Perez.

“I’m always nervous to race,” Haskell said. “It can be scary.”

With his triple jump of 49-8, freshman Antonio Jeeter set a Pima record for second farthest jump.

Both men’s and women’s 4×800 relay squads qualified for nationals.

The men’s team consisted of Ruiz, freshmen Lindon Claridge, Adam Clawson and sophomore Humberto Bravo, while freshmen Kelsey Montano, Shelby Slocum, Mary Cozby and sophomore Heidi Lopez competed for the women.

“I just hope we’re not peaking too early,” Clawson said with a nervous laugh.

Dylan Moeykens hurdles the competition on Feb. 4. Photo by LEFTRICK HERD.

Pima Olympic hopeful Curley fails to place

By MYLO ERICKSON

The Olympics had tryouts in Houston for the marathon on Saturday, Jan. 14. There were about 156 men racing on a 26.2 mile course, and only the top three qualified for the team.

Craig Curley is from Kinlichee, a Navajo reservation in northeast Arizona. He also happens to be a Pima Community College alumnus.

Curley also holds the PCC school record in the 5,000-meter run, which he completed in 14 minutes, 21.03 seconds.

Curley qualified to compete in the Houston tryouts by running in a half-marathon championship in 2010. He ran it in one hour, 4 minutes and 14 seconds.

Curley and his coach, Greg Wenneborg, who is the head coach for PCC’s cross country and track and field teams.

The two of them were fairly confident about Curley’s chances going into the race.

“He’s here to make the team,” Wenneborg said the Friday before the race.

Wenneborg felt Curley’s biggest challenge would be to hold back and not try to run and get into the lead right away.

However, they were still being realistic about Curley’s chances, as he has never run in a marathon before and that distance can present numerous problems for any runner.

“If nothing else, we’re hoping for at least a top-five or top-10 finish,” Wenneborg said.

Curley has spent the past year training for the race in Houston and fully committed himself to trying to make the 2012 U.S. Olympic marathon team.

The day before the race Curley spent his time relaxing and hanging out with the other athletes.

When it came time for the race to start that Saturday morning, only 120 runners took the line, instead of the projected 156.

Curley started out the race fairly strong, with his mile times ranging between 5:05 to 5:08.

This was the pace that both Wenneborg and Curley wanted to keep up, and Curley was in 50th place around the eight-mile mark.

Unfortunately, somewhere between the 20th and 23rd-mile marker, Curley began to struggle, as his energy steadily dissipated.

“It was an off day,” Wenneborg said.

Curley ended up finishing 84th, with a time of 2:39:53.

“Pretty shocking for him to finish as bad as he did,” Wenneborg said. “He’s handling it well.”

Only 85 of the 120 runners actually finished the race, as the distance took a toll on the athletes.

Curley ended up walking parts of the last two to three miles. Curley was also the youngest runner in the group, at 23.

Coming back home, the duo, are now thinking about their options for the future. They are going to take about a two-week break and then decide where they are going to go from there.

“It’s a humble beginning,” Wenneborg said.

Aztec Press File Photo

Pima looks to hurdle over the competition

By MYLO ERICKSON

Pima Community College’s track and field team is looking to improve on its 2011 season, in which its women’s team finished third at regionals and finished 18th at nationals.

The men’s team finished last season by placing fourth at regionals and 21st at nationals.

“We’re in full swing,” head coach Greg Wenneborg said.

The season will kick off this year on Jan. 21, when the team will compete in the Puma Indoor Invitational in Phoenix.

The team is hoping for big things this year.

Pima will be having about 15 to 18 players returning to the team this year.

Christopher Howard being at the top as he finished sixth at the indoor national championships, in the shot put last year.

Wenneborg talked about the team having some depth in the upcoming campaign, although they still do have some holes to fill.

Pima’s weak points are, as always, the pole vault for both men and women, and women’s throws.

Wenneborg feels that Pima’s long sprinters will be some of the top competitors for him this season.

The coach has set a goal of finishing in the top 10 at nationals this year, which Pima has accomplished three times in the last five years.

“We hope to have a strong season,” Wenneborg said.

He is also hoping to maybe finish second at regionals this year, although the field will be extremely competitive, as it usually is.

Pima will have its first three invitationals on the road this season, all of them being in Phoenix.

ON DECK

Jan. 27: @ Puma Indoor Invitational multi-events, Phoenix 1:00 p.m.

Jan. 28: @ Puma Indoor Invitational, Phoenix 11:00 a.m.

Feb. 4: Aztec Invitational @ Pima, 11 a.m.

Feb. 11: @ Glendale Community College Indoor Invitational, Glendale, Ariz. 12:00 p.m.

Last season track star Mario Portillo set the tone for this season's team. Photo By ED ADAMS

Summer recap: Aztec sports ranked no. 22 in the nation

By MYLO ERICKSON
Daniels photo by ED ADAMS
Contreras photo by JAMES KELLEY

Pima Community College stayed in the top 25 of the national ranking of athletic departments, but slipped a bit.

In the 2010-11 rankings, PCC dropped six spots, to No. 22 from its all-time best No. 16 in 2009-10. The National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators ranked the two year schools that give scholarships by their performances at Nationals last year.

Again the Aztec women led the way, earning a total of 55.5 points, after 41 last year and the men earned 15, down from 28.5.

Arizona Community College Athletic Conference rivals Central Arizona College and Mesa Community College both finished in the top 20. Central finished eighth with a total of 101.5 and Mesa was No. 16 with a total of 73 points.

Hall of Fame honors Deanna Daniels

Pima ended their 2010-11 season women’s basketball on a high note, finishing runner-up at Nationals and its superstar was honored by the hall of fame.

Deanna Daniels

Sophomore forward Deanna Daniels was Pima’s top player all season long and in May the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame requested her home jersey to be displayed in Knoxville, Tenn.

Daniels earned numerous awards, like first team All-American and CAT Power Player Award at Nationals, averaging 18 points and 14 rebounds.

Softball team falls in Regional title game

The softball team came up one run short of a trip to Nationals in extra innings and an upset of eventual national Champion Yavapai College on the road at Regionals.

Second seeded Pima (51-14) dropped the first championship game of the double elimination Regional tourney 3-2 to top seeded Yavapai College in the bottom of the ninth and then the second championship game 12-3. Pima’s arch rivals ended the Aztecs’ season in the Regional championship game for the third year in a row.

After leading the ACCAC in strikeouts, freshman pitcher Mari Contreras (30-3) earned first team All-American honors by the National Junior College Athletic Association. Also on the first team of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-West Region was freshman utility Jessica Schneider.

Sophomore catcher Charissa Ballesteros and sophomore first baseman Mercedes Garcia were All-West Region 2nd Team.

In other Pima softball news, the University of Arizona hired Yavapai head coach Stacy Iveson, returning the former Pima coach to Tucson after her fourth NJCAA National Championship and her second in three years. Former Aztec Lisa Parks was named her replacement.

Parks was a two time All-American at Pima, leading the Aztecs to the 2004 National Champions, one of two national titles won by Iveson at PCC, the other in 2006.

Baseball swept by Central in first round

The baseball team’s return to the playoffs was short lived.

The fourth seeded Aztecs’ (29-27) return to the playoffs after a four year hiatus ended in two games after being swept on the road by top seeded Central Arizona in the Regional semifinals. The Vaqueros won the first of the three game series 4-1 and then the second 8-0.

Central finished second at Nationals.

Track and field finish 18th and 21st at Nationals

 Women’s track and field finished 18th at Nationals and the men’s team finished 21st.

For the men, freshman Dylan Moeykens finished fourth in the decathlon. Sophomore Christian Tovar and freshman Chris Howard finished seventh and eighth respectively in the shot put and sophomore Frederick Scarber finished 10th in the high jump.

The women’s 4×800 relay team, freshman Mary Cozby, sophomore Brianna Fugere, freshman Elizabeth Romero and sophomore Janeen Yazzie finished in fifth place.

Sophomore Ashley Dorado placed sixth in the 400 meter hurdles, freshman Jaqi Bell finished eighth in the javelin and Cozby tenth in the 1500 meter run.

At Regionals the women placed 3rd and the men 4th.

Mari Contreras

Women’s tennis earns best-ever Division I finish

 The women’s tennis team finished off their season at the Reffkin Tennis Center in Tucson at the 2011 NJCAA National Tournament where they earned their best ever Division I finish, 15th.

Pima’s No. 1 singles player, freshman Tatum Rochin, won her consolation bracket defeating her opponent 8-2.

The No. 1 doubles team of Rochin and freshman Victoria Bravo and the No. 2 doubles team of sophomore Lydia Carlson and freshman Olivia Cole-Encinas both made it to the finals of their consolation bracket.

Rochin and Bravo lost 8-6, while Carlson and Cole-Encinas lost their match 8-4.

Fifteenth is the women’s best finish since moving into the NJCAA Division I in 2004.

Men’s tennis finishes 13th at Nationals

Pima Community College men’s tennis team ended their season 13th at the 2011 NJCAA National Tournament in Plano, Texas.

Their No. 1 player, sophomore Alan Barrios was eliminated in his consolation bracket final by scores 7-5 and 6-4. No. 5 freshman Jacob Nino ended up winning his consolation bracket with a score of 6-1 and 6-3.

Pima also had a good performance out of its No. 1 doubles team pair of sophomore Andrew Barnett and freshman Timothy Holten. Barnett/Holten won two matches on the final day to claim the top of their consolation bracket against College of Dupage (Ill.) 6-4 and 7-6 and McHenry (Ill.) College 7-6 and 7-5.

Men’s golf finishes 20th at Nationals

Aztec men’s golf ended the 2011 NJCAA National Golf Tournament in 20th place overall.

Pima shot a total of 1220 as a team over the four day tournament.

Sophomore Mark Ontiveros was the top Aztec as he finished the four days with a shot total of 300 which was third best among all ACCAC competitors and good enough to earn him a tie for 37th place.

The next finishes for Pima were sophomore Robert Perrott III who finished in a tie for 63rd place with a total of 305, freshman Adam Ortiz finished in 75th with a total of 309, and sophomore Anthony Grijalva placed 85th overall with a score of 311.

Women’s golf duo finishes 40th and 64th at Nationals

Aztec women’s golf finished off their season at Nationals in Daytona, Fla.

The only two representatives were freshmen Alyssa Vega and Chloe Treece.

Overall, Treece tied for 40th place with a four-day total of 350. Shooting 96 on the first day, a 86 on the second, 79 on the third and 89 on the final day.

Vega finished off her season in 64th place with a four day total of 376. She shot 94 on her first day, a 90 on the second, a 97 on the third and a 95 on the final day.

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POSTSEASON UPDATE: Women’s track & field finishes 18th at Nationals, men 21st

May 21 PCC press release
Aztec Press photos by ED ADAMS

HUTCHINSON, KS – The Pima Community College 2010-11 athletic year came to a close Saturday afternoon as the PCC men’s and women’s track teams competed in final day action at the 2011 NJCAA Outdoor Nationals. The Aztec women’s team picked up four points on the final day, finishing the championship in 18th place. The PCC men were unable to add to their points list and finished in 21st place overall.

Ashley Dorado (SO, Tucson, AZ, Cienega HS) was the top point earner on Saturday as she placed 6th in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:03.88 and picking up three points. The finish was a lifetime best for Dorado, and places her 2nd all time for Pima. Jaqi Bell (FR, Tombstone, AZ, Tombstone HS) earned the final PCC team point, as she threw 38.69 meters in the javelin, which was good enough for 8th place overall.

Ashley Dorado

Mary Cozby (FR, Anna, IL, Ann-Jonesboro HS) was just out of the points as she placed 10th in the 1500 meter run at 5:15.18. Julia Dittiger (SO, Tucson, AZ, Cienega HS) also came close as she placed 11th in the 5000 meter with a time of 20:36.05.

Chloe Nowell (SO, Phoenix, AZ, Millennium HS) was the final Aztec women’s competitor to have a quality performance as she placed 16th in the long jump with a leap of 4.88 meters.

Frederick Scarber (SO, Tucson, AZ, Cienega HS) just missed the points list in men’s competition as he jumped 2.06 meters in the high jump and placed 10th overall. Mario Portillo (SO, Tucson, AZ, Catalina HS) also competed in men’s action where he placed 26th in the 5000 meter with a time of 17:16.83

Moeykens finishes 4th in decathlon

May 20 PCC press release

HUTCHINSON, KS – The Pima Community College men’s and women’s track and field teams took part in day-two of competition at the 2011 NJCAA Outdoor Championships, on Friday. The two team combined to earn 15 total points, landing them in 15th place overall.

Dylan Moeykens (FR, Tucson, AZ, Sahuaro HS) finished off the decathlon where he placed 4th with a lifetime best of 4764 points, just 271 points behind the top finisher from Iowa Central CC. In Friday’s five events, Moeykens took 11th in the 110 meter hurdles (602 points), 1st in the discus (559 points), 11th in the pole vault (439 points), 5th in the javelin (507 points) and 14th in the 1500 meter run (377 points). With the fourth place finish Moeykens earned five team points for the Aztecs.

The Aztec men picked up three more team points as Christian Tovar (SO, Tucson, AZ, Amphitheater HS) and Chris Howard (FR, Tucson, AZ, Sahuaro HS) finished 7th and 8th in the shot put. Tovar threw 15.28 meters while Howard threw 15.27 meters.

Zach Dunbar (SO, Lake Havasu City, AZ, Lake Havasu HS) continued the PCC points spree in field events as he earned three points and sixth place in the javelin with a throw of 54.64 meters.

The Aztecs’ women’s 4X800 relay team of Mary Cozby (FR, Anna, IL, Anna-Jonesoro HS), Brianna Fugere (SO, Tucson, AZ, Sabino HS), Elizabeth Romero (FR, Tucson, AZ, Sunnyside HS) and Janeen Yazzie (SO, Winslow, AZ, Winslow HS) earned four team points with a 5th place finish in their race.

Julia Dittiger (SO, Tucson, AZ, Cienega HS) just missed the points list in the 3000 meter steeplechase as she finished in 10th place, with a time of 12:35.20, while Alice Odu (FR, Tucson, AZ, Catalina Magnet HS) and Chloe Nowell (SO, Phoenix, AZ, Millennium HS) also came close to scoring as they finished 15th and 16th respectively in the triple jump. Odu leaped 11.01 meters, while Nowell jumped 10.93 meters.

PCC will take part in final day action tomorrow as they look to score with top eight finishes and move up in the team scoring.

Moeykens leads track & field on Nationals day one

May 19 PCC press release

HUTCHINSON, KS – The Pima Community College men’s and women’s track and field teams opened up competition at the 2011 NJCAA Outdoor Championships, Thursday afternoon. PCC travelled twelve women’s competitors and twelve men who will take part in 17 individual events and four relays.

The Aztecs’ top performer on day one of competition was Dylan Moeykens (FR, Tucson, AZ, Sahuaro HS) who competed five of ten events in the men’s decathlon. After five events, Moeykens has accumulated 3603 points as he took 1st in the shot put, 2nd in the long jump, 3rd in the 100 meter, 5th in high jump and 7th in the 400 meter run. Moeykens will complete the other five events tomorrow as he attempts to claim Pima’s first title at the 2011 Championship.

Josue Saldivar (SO, Tucson, AZ, Desert View HS) had a quality finish in the men’s 10 000 meter run as his time of 34:28.25 was good enough for 14th place overall.

Christian Tovar (SO, Tucson, AZ, Amphitheater HS) was a PCC favorite in the hammer throw, but he came up short of the points list as he placed 17th with a throw of 44.49 meters.

The 2011 Championship meet runs May 19-21 at Gowans Stadium in Hutchinson, Kansas.

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POSTSEASON UPDATE: Track & field: women finish 3rd, men 4th at Regionals

May 13 PCC press release
Aztec Press photo by ED ADAMS

MESA, AZ – The Pima Community College men’s and women’s track and field teams wrapped up final-day action at the Region 1 Championship Meet, late Thursday evening, with the Aztecs women placing third overall and the men fourth.

The PCC men’s 4×400 placed second at the championship meet, but team of Sergio Carillo (SO, Tucson, AZ, Salpointe HS), Derrick Coker (SO, Tucson, AZ, Cienega HS), Matthew Robertson (SO, San Diego, CA, BirminghamHS) and Antoine Thomas (SO, Tombstone, AZ, Tombstone HS) did set a new PCC record with a time of 3:12.97. The team’s time is five seconds better than their best time of the year and qualifies them for the NJCAA National Championships, in Hutchinson, Kansas.

The women’s 4×400 of Ashely Dorado (SO, Tucson, AZ, Cienega HS), Liz Romero (FR, Tucson, AZ, Sunnyside HS), Adrianna Thomas (FR, Tucson, AZ, Sunnyside HS) and Kathy Acosta Zavala (SO, Bolivia, Peru, Jose Saldivar HS) also qualified for the NJCC meet as they place third in their race with a time of 4:01.15.

Other top performers for PCC were Matthew Robertson who took third in the 400 meters with a time of 48.02. The finish is a national qualifying mark and the second best time Pima history for the event.

Dylan Moeykens (FR, Tucson, AZ, Sahuaro HS) and Zion Harvey (FR, Tucson, AZ, Amphitheater HS) each earned runner up finishes at the Regional Championship as Moeykens took second in the men’s decathlon, while Harvey was second in the 100 meter.

Zach Dunbar (SO, Lake Havasu City, AZ, Lake Havasu HS) and Christian Tovar (SO, Tucson, AZ, Amphitheater HS) earned second place finishes in field events as Dunbar was runner up in the Javelin and Tovar was second in both the hammer throw and the shot put.

On the women’s side, Julia Dittiger (SO, Tucson, AZ, Cienega HS) and Alice Odu (FR, Tucson, AZ, Catalina Magnet HS) each earned second place finishes as Dittiger was runner up in the 3000 meter steeplechase, while Odu was second in the triple jump.

Track & field wins two championships on first day of Regionals

May 11 PCC press release

MESA, AZ – The Pima Community College men’s and women’s track and field teams wrapped up day one of the Region 1 Championship Meet, late Tuesday evening, with a pair of regional championships and numerous quality performances is Mesa.

The women’s 4×800 meter relay team earned the Aztecs first regional championship as Mary Cozby (FR, Anna, IL, Anna-Jonesboro HS), Brianna Fugere (SO, Tucson, AZ, Sabino HS), Annalisa Loevenguth (SO, Safford, AZ, Safford HS), and Janeen Yazzie (SO, Winslow, AZ, Winslow HS) won their race with a national championship qualifying mark of 9:53.

Josue Saldivar (SO, Tucson, AZ, Desert View HS) won the regional championship title in the men’s 10,000 meter run with a time of 34:28. Both Region Champions automatically qualify for the national championships in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Four other Aztecs individuals, and one relay team, had second place finishes on Tuesday. Zach Dunbar (SO, Lake Havasu City, AZ, Lake Havasu HS) threw the Javelin 192’9″; Christian Tovar (SO, Tucson, AZ, Amphitheater HS) threw the hammer 168’11″; Mario Portillo (SO, Tucson, AZ, Catalina HS) finished strong in the 10,000 meters at 35:09; while Jaqi Bell () was a top female finisher in the Javelin with a throw of 125’0″.

Mario Portillo

The men’s 4×800 meter relay team of Wilburt Barton (SO, Winslow, AZ, Winslow HS), Sergio Carillo (SO, Tucson, AZ, Salpointe HS), Demitri Hayes (FR, Tucson, AZ, Tucson HS) and Joshua Wills (FR, Tombstone, AZ, Tombstone HS) finished second at 8:49.6.

The final day of the Region 1 Championships is scheduled for Thursday with finals in the sprints, hurdles, distances, and throws.

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ONLINE EXTRA: Aztec thrower ranks among top in the nation

Story, video and photo by JOEL GANTT

Pima Community College has a track and field athlete who is ranked third in the nation in the hammer throw and seventh in the nation in shot put.

If that’s not impressive enough, this athlete has only been practicing track and field for three years.

Introducing Christian Tovar, a Pima sophomore who was born and raised in Tucson.

Christian Tovar

“I know I can improve and that is what motivates me,” Tovar said. “If I put in the time and work, it will pay off.”

The hard work has been paying off for Tovar in the throwing circle. At Pima’s final conference meet of the season, Tovar placed first in the hammer throw with a mark of 168 feet, 8 inches and second in the shot put with a mark of 51 feet, 10 inches.

Tovar graduated from Amphi High School, where he competed in wrestling and football. He didn’t practice track until the track coach at his high school approached him during his senior year.

“I enjoyed track from the beginning,” Tovar said. “I had an offer to play football in college, but chose track instead.”

Standing 5 foot 10 inches tall, Tovar must have great technique in order to compete with the taller athletes in his sport. What Tovar lacks in size, he makes up for in hard work.

Tovar practices for an average of 15 hours per week. That does not include his weightlifting and sprints, which adds another eight hours per week. He studies video for another five hours weekly.

That 28 hours a week dedicated to throwing separates Tovar from his competition.

“Christian Tovar is a unique individual; he is a strong thrower and a great kid,” head coach Greg Wenneborg said.

The work ethic that Tovar has gained from track and field has helped in his life outside of athletics.

“Track has shown me that with hard work there is great reward,” he said. “Track has given me mental tools that I apply to life.”

When Tovar is not launching a 16-pound steel ball, you can find him at the Downtown or West campuses, where he is studying criminal justice. Tovar aspires to be a probation officer when he is done with athletics.

This well spoken, kind student has gotten better every year he has been in track and field, with bigger throws and higher national rankings that continue to improve.

He is unsure where he wants to go to school next year but is sure of one thing: he just wants to throw farther. At the rate he is going, he will.

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ONLINE EXTRA: Track & Field headed to Nationals

Story and video by JOEL GANTT

Photos by Ed Adams

The Pima Community College track team began post-season play May 2 and will end it with at least 20 athletes at Nationals.

Chloe Nowell

Pima opened the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 1 Championships well  May 2-3 at the Multi-Event Championship. Freshman Dylan Moeykens finished second in the decathlon and sophomore Chloé Nowell earned a personal record in the 800-meter in the hepthlon.

Regionals continue in Mesa May 10 and 12.

“Our team goal is to place second at regionals,” head coach Greg Wenneborg said. “I was worried about the distance runners, with their late improvements we have a real shot at runner up.”

Regional competition also gives competitors one last chance to qualify for the National Junior Athletic Association Championships that will be held at Hutchinson, Kansas on May 19 and May 21. As of May 3, Pima has qualified 20 for Nationals.

Mario Portillo

Last year both teams finished third at Regionals.

In March the men’s team finished 15th at Indoor Nationals. Last year at Nationals the women’s team finished 13th and the men finished 17th.

A small group of track and field athletes competed in a last gasp meet at Glendale CC on April 30. No athletes were able to qualify for championships at the meet.

Track and Field traveled to San Diego, CA to compete at the UC San Diego Triton Invitational on April 22-23. Aztec highlights were provided by these athletes:

•Brianna Fugere, sophomore, 800-meter, personal record 2:21.9.

•Julia Dittiger, sophomore, 5000-meter, personal best time of 19:06.3.

•Mario Portillo, sophomore, 5000-meter, in 15:32.4.

All three Aztecs qualified for the Nationals

Nationals qualifiers as of May 2
Women
Jaqi Bell
Julia Dittiger
Ashley Dorado
Brianna Fugere
Chloé Nowell
Alice Odu
Anaiz Zamorano
4×800 relay
Men
Derrick Coker
Zach Dunbar
Zion Harvey
Chris Howard
Nathan Manigault
Dylan Moeykens
Mario Portillo
Matthew Robertson
Frederick Scarber
Christian Tovar
4×100 relay

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Track & Field teams finish conference play

By JOEL GANTT

The Pima Community College track and field teams wrapped up their conference slate April 16 at Mesa Community College.

The men’s team went 3-2 at the meet. Their Arizona Community College Athletic Conference record is 9-6.

The women tied with Mesa, going 3-1-1 at the meet. Their final conference record is 9-5-1.

The Aztecs won five events at the meet and had one athlete qualify for the National Junior College Athletic Association championships. Here are the results:

• Freshman Zion Harvey: first place, 100-meter dash, personal record 10.56 seconds; first place, 200-meter dash, personal record 21.56 seconds.

• 4×100-meter-relay, first place, season-best 40.75 seconds: Harvey, sophomore Derrick Coker, sophomore Matthew Robertson, sophomore Nathan Manigault.

• Sophomore Christian Tovar: first place, hammer throw, 168 feet, 8 inches.

• Freshman Jaqi Bell: first place, javelin throw, Nationals qualifying 133 feet, 11 inches.

Pima also competed at the Mesa Classic Invitational on April 8, where two Aztecs qualified for Nationals at the non-conference meet.

• Freshman Anaiz Zamarano: 10^th place, 400-meter hurdles, Nationals qualifying time of 1:07.15.

• Sophomore Ashley Dorado: fourth place, 400 hurdles, personal record time of 1:05.02.

• Freshman Alice Odu: fourth place, triple jump, Nationals qualifying leap of 37 feet, 3.75 inches.

• Sophomore Zach Dunbar” first place, javelin, nationally ranked No. 4 with a throw of 192 feet, 1inch.

• Tovar: fifth place, shot put, nationally ranked No. 7 with a mark of 52 feet, 6.75inches.

• Sophomore Frederick Scarber: second place, high jump, cleared 6 feet, 7 inches.

The Aztecs have five meets remaining, including a road trip to UC San Diego April 22-23 for the Triton Invitational.

“At this point in the season, I am working on technical things and staying healthy,” Tovar said.

On Deck
April 22-23: @ UCSD Triton Invitational (San Diego)
April 30: @ Glendale CC Last Gasp Meet (Glendale)
May 2-3: NJCAA Region I Multi Event (Mesa)

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3 PCC athletes rise to top 4 in national rankings

By JOEL GANTT
Photo by LEFTRICK HERD

The Pima Community College men’s and women’s track and field teams have had athletes shoot up the national rankings, and started conference play 6-4.

Pima traveled to Scottsdale on April 2, where they individually competed at the Paradise Valley Community College invitational.

Three Aztecs are now individually ranked fourth or better in the nation after the non-conference meet.

Sophomore Zach Dunbar, who was sidelined in the previous meet after straining a muscle in the weight room, bounced back with a javelin throw of 57.83 meters.

Dunbar’s throw won him first place at the meet and is fourth best in the National Junior College Athletic Association rankings.

Eric Hayes, left, Lee Lefflock, center and Cory Sarasnick, right

Freshman Dylan Moeykins, won three of the 10 decathlon events and totaled 5,609 points overall. That total is currently second best in the nation.

Christian Tovar, sophomore, continued his successful season with a third-place effort in the hammer throw. His mark of 52.56 meters is currently ranked second in the NJCAA.

“Last meet went well. I’m still in a brutal training phase,” Tovar said. “When I back off the weights and sprints, bigger throws will come.”

The Aztecs’ freshmen female long jumpers were dominant at Paradise Valley. Trissa Pullen won the long jump with a leap of 4.92 meters. Olivia Brown placed second with a jump of 4.79.

Sophomore Brianna Fugere, and freshman Elizabeth Romero, were equally successful in the 800-meter dash. Both finished in 2:26 to tie for second.

While the invitational meet gave athletes the chance to compete individually on a national platform, the meet did not give Pima points toward Arizona Community College Athletic Conference standings.

Pima was given the chance to compete for points as a team in its second conference meet of the season March 26 at Central Arizona College.

Both the men and women’s teams competed in the five-way head-to-head meet without a top competitor.

The women’s team competed without sophomore jumper Chloe’ Nowell, who sat out with a calf strain. The men were without Dunbar’s throws.

Highlights for the Aztecs included:
• Julia Dittiger, first place in the 3000-meter steeple chase with a Nationals qualifying time of 12:34.9.
• Alice Odu, freshman, first place in the triple jump with a jump of 36’3”.
• Tovar, first place in the hammer throw with a mark of 171’2”.
• Derrick Coker, sophomore, second place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.80.
• Romero, third in the 400-meter dash in a time of 1:00.9.
• Nathan Manigault, Matthew Robertson, Coker, sophomores, Zion Harvey, freshman, second in the 4×100 meter relay with a time of 41.38.
• Chris Howard, freshman, second place in the men’s shot put with a championship qualifying throw of 49’3”
• JaQuaisha Hickman, freshman, third place in the woman’s long jump with a leap of 17’2”.
• Frederick Scarber, sophomore, second place in the men’s long jump leaping 22’11”.

The men finished the day beating three of the five teams, giving them a 6-4 conference record.

The women’s team is also 6-4 in conference after they beat two of the five competitors.

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ONLINE EXTRA: Track & field begin conference play with victories

Story and video by JOEL GANTT
Photo by LEFTRICK HERD

The Pima Community College track and field teams started Arizona Community College Athletic Conference outdoor meets and then quickly stepped out of conference play.

The Aztecs competed in the Willie Williams invitational on March 18 and 19 at the University of Arizona.

Freshman Zion Harvey ran the men’s 100-meter dash in 10.64 seconds. His time was best in his heat and third overall.

“It was a good meet,” Harvey said. “The 100 was a highlight for me.”

Harvey also teamed up with sophomores Nathan Manigault, Derrick Coker and Mathew Robertson to win the men’s 4×100-meter relay. No other team was close to the Aztecs’ time of 41.53 seconds.
Lee LeFlohic, a sophomore, placed fourth in the men’s 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.34 seconds.

Sophomore Frederick Scarber achieved fourth place in the men’s triple jump with a mark of 13.95 meters.

In the men’s shot put, sophomore Christian Tovar took sixth place with a mark of 15.36 meters.

On the women’s side, sophomore Chloe’ Nowell won fourth place in the triple jump with a leap of 10.92 meters.

Freshmen JaQuaisha Hickman and Ariel Moeser both competed in the woman’s 100-meter dash. Hickman was ninth with a time of 12.48 and Moeser was 11th with a time of 12.71 seconds.

Another bright spot for the women was sophomore Ashley Dorado, who ran a 15.94 in the 100-meter hurdles and took 10th place.

The Willie Williams invitational was not a conference meet and did not affect Pima’s conference standings. However, on Saturday March 12 the Aztecs competed in their first outdoor conference meet of the season.

The men’s and women’s teams traveled to Glendale, Ariz., to compete in a five-way dual meet. The teams competed head-to-head against the other schools in the conference and both teams came out with winning records.

Chloe’ Nowell

The previously mentioned men’s relay team of Harvey, Manigault, Coker and Robertson was best at the meet, winning the men’s 4×100 relay with a time of 40.98 seconds. This time also qualified the team for the outdoor national championships.

Harvey also qualified for Nationals in the men’s 200-meter dash with a third place finishing time of 21.35 seconds.

In the woman’s 400-meter hurdles, Dorado qualified for Nationals and placed fourth at the meet with a time of 1:07.13.

Two Aztecs qualified for the championships in jumps. For the women, Nowell’s triple jump of 37’3” was a first place finish. For the men high-jumper Scarber cleared 6’7” and placed third at the meet.

Tovar, whose hammer throw of 168’7” placed first, led the Aztecs in the throws. He also placed second in the shot put with a final attempt that hit 50’5”. Both throws qualified for Nationals.

Two freshmen throwers made second place marks.

Chris Howard placed in men’s discus with a throw of 138’2”. Jaqi Bell placed in woman’s javelin with a mark of 118’1”.

The women’s team beat Scottsdale Community College, Mesa Community College, Paradise Valley Community College and Glendale Community College at the meet to give them a season opening record of 4-1 in the first ACCAC meet.

The men’s team beat Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Glendale to open their season at 3-2.

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