Tigers Tracksters Open Conference Dual Meet Season with Three Wins
Blitzing each of its Orange Empire Conference (OEC) opponents by at least 100 points, the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's track and field team posted three lopsided conference dual meet victories in a OEC quadrangular meet last Friday (Feb. 7) at Golden West College in Huntington Beach.
Riverside (3-0) sped past the visiting Santa Ana College Dons, 130-5, and also over the visiting Fullerton College Hornets, 129-7, as well as over the host Golden West College Rustlers, 124-20.
Some RCC highlights included Gabriel Vargas (Vista del Lago HS) tossing a state best 178'3" in the discus and Ryan Kent (Ayala HS) tossing the hammer a state best 179'3". Gabe and Ryan also went 1-2 in the shot put throwing 49 feet.
"Coach Robinson has done a fantastic job preparing his throwers for this season," said RCC head men's track and field coach Jim McCarron. "Gabe and Ryan have improved tremendously from last year, and promise to be a force in the throws at the state level for the Tigers."
As also reported by McCarron:
"Art Hop (Jurupa Valley HS) started the season off right with a strong early season jump of 15'0" in the pole vault for the victory. In the high jump Raymond Owens (Claremont HS) won easily with a personal best of 6'6". "
"The Tigers opened up with victories and good early season times in the 4x100 (41.65) and 4x400 (3:18). Freshman Keithyon Moten (Indio HS) won the 110HH, clocking 14.90, and Zack Lewis (Ramona HS) took the victory in the 400IH with a time of 54.13. Luis Gutierrez (Rancho Cucamonga HS), the second fastest freshman 1500m runner in the nation last year, started his season off by cruising to victory in the 1500M (4:05). Michael Waltrip (Chaparral HS) won the 3000m with a time of 9:19.
"The Tigers took the top 3 spots in the 400m, led by Mathew Vasel (King HS), clocking 50.19. Just'n Thymes (Hamilton HS), the reigning USA junior champion in the 200m, ran a terrific opening time of 10.48 in the 100 meters for the victory, and his teammate, Napoleon Singletary (Roosevelt HS), took second with a time of 10.83. Singletary also won the 200m (21.81), edging out teammate Sterling Winston (Valley View HS) who ran 21.83."
All results can be found on www.directathletics.com
On Friday, Feb. 14, the Tigers head to Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the campus of Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut for the Second Annual RCC/Mt. Sac dual meet, dubbed "The Dual."
In 2013, The Tigers won the inaugural event, 101-44, at RCC. "The Dual" switches venues each season and the winning team takes "The Cup" back to home.
"Competing head on with Mt. SAC is always fun and our student-athletes are excited about going to their place this year to retain "The Cup," added McCarron.