Aztecs Track & Field Teams Set Four New Qualifiers at ACCAC Meet

The Pima Community College men's and women's track & field teams each went 3-1 in head-to-head meetings at the ACCAC Conference Meet on Saturday at Central Arizona College.

The Aztecs women's team defeated Mesa Community College (105-71), Paradise Valley Community College (119-35) and Glendale Community College (110-38). Pima lost to Central Arizona 105-72.

Freshman Katherine Loyd (Catalina HS) set her third outdoor national qualifier as she took fourth place in the 1,500 meter race with a time of 5 minutes, 00.86 seconds. She has qualifying times in the 5,000 and 10,000 meter races.

Sophomore Shalise Fernander (Floiwng Wells HS) took second place in the 800 meter race with a national qualifying time of 2:19.38.

Freshman Hailey Merriman (Flowing Wells HS) set her national qualifier in the pole vault event. She finished in second place with a vault of 3.05 meters.

The 4x100 relay team of freshman Hannah Bartz (Mountain View HS), sophomore McKenna McGrath (St. David HS), sophomore Jamie Holliday (Sahuaro HS) and freshman Amber McCroskey (Buena HS) improved on their national qualifier. They finished in first place with a time of 47.65; an improvement from their old qualifier of 47.87.

Bartz also improved on her national qualifier in the long jump. She took first place and set a new mark at 5.91 meters. Her previous jump was 5.84 meters.

Sophomore Meghan Sweeney (Red Mountain HS) took second place in the high jump with a jump of 1.66 meters; she improved on her qualifier of 1.65 meters.

The men's team also went 3-1 in head-to-head meetings as they defeated Glendale (101-80), Central Arizona (93-87) and Paradise Valley (126-47). Pima lost to Mesa 109-82.

Freshman Devonte Rodriguez (Palo Verde HS) took first place in the javelin and set a national qualifier with a throw of 47.87 meters; which was also a personal best.

The Aztecs have 24 outdoor national qualifying marks.

The Aztecs will compete in the Mesa Classic Outdoor Invitational on Friday at Mesa Community College. Competition begins at 4:00 p.m.

See complete results of the ACCAC Conference Meet on WingFootFinish website

Hannah Bartz/Photo by Ben Carbajal