Laney College will be represented at the CCCAA Track & Field State Championship for the third consecutive year, as sophomore throwers Jack Beltran, Jada Joshua, and Tupu Ve’e all advance.
The Eagles had a terrific performance at the NorCal Championships this past weekend, earning three medals in throws and having a record-breaking performance in the 3,000m steeplechase. The meet began on Friday, May 3rd with Beltran and Joshua competing in discus. After a solid opening round, both athletes advanced to the final flight. Needing to finish in the top 6 to advance to state, Beltran held her position going into the day finishing in 6th, giving her a bid to the State Championship. Joshua had an incredible performance, twice breaking the school discus record previously held by Beltran and finishing 2nd overall, 5 spots higher than where she was entering the competition. Joshua will advance to the State Championship along with Beltran.
The second day of the meet began with freshman distance runners Emily Wonsang and Maria Ramirez competing in the 3,000m steeplechase. Wonsang entered the meet as the school’s record holder for the event and again broke her own record, finishing the race at 13:49.58. Ramirez, the school's second-fastest 3,000m steeplechase runner, finished with a time of 15:03.95.
The Eagles wrapped up the meet with Joshua and Ve’e competing in shot put. Joshua finished her initial flight with a throw of 10.40m, keeping her position entering the day. Ve’e entered the meet as the top thrower in Northern California and continued her dominance, winning the gold medal for shot put while breaking her own school record with a throw of 12.84m.
Beltran, Joshua, and Ve’e will all compete at the CCCAA Track & Field State Championship meet at Saddleback College on May 18th.