Lopez, Bruno and Jarus capture titles after first day at Region I Championships
The Pima Community College men's and women's track & field teams kicked off competition in the NJCAA Region I Championships on Tuesday at Mesa Community College.
The Aztecs sit in third place in the team standings. The women's team finished the day with 46 points. Central Arizona College is in first place with 93 while Mesa Community College is second with 65.
Freshman Anahiramar Lopez (Tucson HS) took home the long jump region championship after she finished with a leap of 17-feet, 8.75-inches (5.40 meters) to earn 10 team points. The Aztecs accumulated 17 total points in that event as four other Pima athletes earned points.
Freshman Katherine Bruno (Canyon del Oro HS) broke away from the competition and won the 3,000 meter steeplechase as she crossed the finish line with a time of 11 minutes, 56.68 seconds earning a personal record.
Sophomore Alyssa Watkins (Camp Verde HS) earned 12 points for the Aztecs as she took second place in the hammer throw with a mark of 149-0 (45.42 meters). She finished fifth in the javelin at 103-5 (31.53 meters).
In men's competition, the Aztecs sit in third place with 41 points. Mesa is in first place with 100 points and Central Arizona College sits in second with 70 points.
Sophomore Seth Jarus (Wickenburg HS) won the long jump event with a leap of 23-feet, 6.75-inches (7.18 meters).
The 4x800 relay team of Issa Abdikadir (Desert View HS), Andy Trinh (Catalina HS), Victor Bustamante (Flowing Wells HS) and Collin Dylla (Ironwood Ridge HS) finished in second place with a time of 7:53.26 earning eight team points.
Sophomore Tony Chavez (Bisbee HS) was third in the pole vault with a vault of 14-feet, 7.25-inches (4.45 meters).
Freshman Tyler Bauer took third place in the 10,000 meter race with a time of 33:20.71 earning six points.
The Aztecs will look for more medals and plaques in the final day of the Region I Championships on Thursday at Mesa Community College. Competition begins at 5:00 p.m.
For complete team and event results, visit WingFootFinish
Other women's track & field finishes and team points scored:
Brianna Bertsch (Pueblo HS) – 4th in hammer throw (133-feet, 6-inches; 40.69 meters) – 5 points
Hailey Myles (Boulder Creek HS) – 5th in long jump (17-feet, 0-inches; 5.18 meters) – 4 points
Theresa Sweeney (San Manuel HS) – 7th in javelin (90-feet, 4-inches; 27.54 meters) – 2 points
Mecca Marks (Desert Edge HS) – 7th in long jump (15-feet, 11.75-inches; 4.87 meters) – 2 points
Megan Schiffmacher (Cactus HS) – 8th in long jump (15-feet, 11-inches; 4.85 meters) – 1 point
Other men's track & field finishes and team points scored:
James Sather (Buena HS) – 5th in javelin (144-feet, 3-inches; 43.98 meters) – 4 points
Charles Gross (Buena HS) – 6th in hammer throw (143-feet, 4-inches; 43.68 meters) – 3 points
Connor Deakin (Ironwood Ridge HS) – 7th in 3,000 meter steeplechase (10:20.72) – 2 points
Dahrian Harris-Mesh (Rincon HS) – 8th in hammer throw (139-feet, 4-inches; 42.48 meters) – 1 point
Tyler Valenzuela (Canyon del Oro HS) – 8th in pole vault (13-feet, 1.50-inches; 4.00 meters) – 1 point