Men’s Track & Field Routs Competition, Women Place Second at RCC Early Bird

The Riverside City College track & field program kicked off the 2020 campaign by hosting the RCC Early Bird featuring CSU San Bernardino, Mt. San Antonio College and San Diego Mesa College. The men cruised to a dominating victory by accumulating 317.5 points, while the women placed second with a total score of 158 points.

The men earned 13 first place finishes to highlight the opening meet of the year. They swept the podium in three events including the 60 M, 300 M and 600 M.

The 4 x 100 M Relay hauled in the gold medal as sophomore Jabriel Smith, freshman Jemarcus Tate, freshman Darnell Ricardson and sophomore William Dower teamed up to earned a top finish reading 42.11. They edged out SD Mesa by nine one hundredths of a second.

The 4 x 800 M Relay followed by snapping the tape with a mark of 8:15.79. The team featured sophomore Joshua Briscoe, freshman Jared Mallon, freshman Trevor Nguru and freshman Ethan Hemminger.

Smith continued on to place first in the 60 M with a mark of 6.80, while Dower followed close behind at a time of 6.97. Dower earned the gold medal in Long Jump with a leap of 22' 5.75".

Ricardson experienced a strong inaugural meet with a first place finish in the 300 M at a mark reading 35.41. Hemminger followed with a top finish in the 600 M with a clip of 1:22.11, while Nguru placed second in the 600 M at 1:24.23.

Sophomore Evan Vigrass held down the hurdles arena with a top finish in the 600 M Hurdles at a time of 54.25. Freshman Matthew Siggins placed second in the 60 M Hurdles at a time of 8.59.

The throwing team picked up where they left off last season by snagging three top finishes. Sophomore Anthony Rodrigues placed first in the Shot Put with a mark of 45' 7", while freshman Ethan Perez earned 138' 6" in the Discus to land him the gold medal. Freshman Joseph Alipranti rounded out the top marks with a victory in the Hammer as seen in a 146' 10" mark.

On the women's side, Riverside earned seven top finishes. Sophomore Alana Wilson was the anchor to the sprinting success. She placed first in a pair of events coming in the 60 M at 7.71 and the 300 M at 40.53. She was on a leg of the 4 x 400 M Relay that placed second as well.

Sophomore Kaleigh Giannore earned a top finish in the 400 M Hurdles at 1:07.37 to round out the top sprinting results.

Freshman Ariana Fealofai cleaned up in her first meet as a Tiger by snagging two gold medals. She led the pack in the Shot Put with a mark of 37' 10.5" backed by a 124' 4" mark in the Discus. Sophomore Keianna Turner placed first in the Hammer with a mark reading 154' 4".

The Tigers will continue action on Saturday, February 22 at the Pasadena Lancer Invitational.