Reece Gardner earns second place and NJCAA All-American honors after first day at NJCAA Nationals

The Pima Community College men's track & field team closed out the first day of the NJCAA Division I National Championships on Thursday in Hutchinson, KS.

• Sophomore Reece Gardner (Marana HS) took second place and earned eight team points in the Pole Vault with a personal-best vault of 4.81 meters (15-feet, 9.25-inches). He hit the mark on his second attempt. His three attempts to break the Pima school record fell short but earned NJCAA All-American honors.
• "It was a good experience, it was a little rough on the conditions but we made our way through. I have excellent coaching so that helped a lot," Gardner said. "I was just able to pull off second place. It was a little upsetting, I was real close to the school record.
  "Pima has been good. It's definitely made me a better athlete and a better person especially through the coaches. Chad (Harrison) has pushed me throughout both of my seasons here; academically, physically and mentally. It's been a good experience."
• Sophomore Chalen Lozano (Marana HS) took ninth place in the 10,000-meter race with a time of 33 minutes, 56.42 seconds.

Other Pima finishes:

• Mikhail Browne – 23^rd in Long Jump 6.74 meters (22-1.50)
• Donovan Henderson – 24^th in Long Jump 6.73 meters (22-1)

Check out updated team scores and individual results on Athletic Live:

The Aztecs continue competition on Friday at the Gowans Stadium in Hutchinson. Events begin at 9:00 a.m. (CT).