Griffith's WSC Title Defense Leads Pirate Regional Qualifiers

The Pirates' men's and women's track and field teams did not achieve their team goals but produced an impressive number of Southern California Regional qualifiers, led by WSC champion Tristan Griffith and Alyssa Carrillo. Griffith successfully defended his crown in the 400m and qualified for regionals in the 200m and in two relays while Carrillo moved on SoCal's in three individual throwing events.  

The VC women finished in sixth place in the final tallies at the championships while the VC men came in ninth as a team.

Griffith fulfilled his season-long goal to repeat as the WSC 400 meter champion. He answered the call admirably, taking an early lead in the final, easily taking the race on a blustery afternoon at Moorpark College. Griffith also placed fourth in the 200m, missing his lifetime best by .01 second. He also joined teammates Jason Mesa, Ahmad Jalloh and Isaiah Batis finishing fourth in the 4x100m relay, and Batis, Max Carmona and Ryan Stevens coming in sixth in the 4x400m relay.

Other Pirates men qualifying for the SoCal Regionals included Mesa (sixth in the 100m), Alejandro Ambriz (fourth in the 1500m), Terrance Nunnery (fifth in the long jump) and Daniel Alejandre (fifth in the Discus). At the time of publishing, Steven Nolasco (High Jump), Carmona (400m), and Jose Tamayo (1500m) received at-large berths into the Regional meet.

"Our men performed well for what we put on the track," commented head track & field coach Tony Veney. "We have to prepare now to build a better conference squad for next year, through recruiting and getting a stronger effort from our staff."

The women were led by Carrillo, last year's team MVP. She qualified for regionals with a sixth place throw in the Shot Put, third place in the Hammer and in the Discus. Serenity Valoaga placed fifth in the Shot Put, while her sister, Leslie Valoaga placed sixth in the Discus Throw.

Other women punching their ticket to Cerritos next week included Dejahnae Brown (sixth in the High Jump), Miranda Rodriguez (sixth in the 100m), Karen Reyes (sixth in the 400m hurdles), Marissa Gonzales (fifth in the 1500m) and Alisa Houston (sixth in the 400m). Houston, Rodriguez, Reyes, and Brown contributed to a fourth place 4x400m relay and a fifth place 4x100m relay. 

Brittany Cox (400m hurdles) and Macy Schmidt (10k) will join the Pirate women at the SoCal meet as at-large qualifiers.

"I'm hoping we can make the kind of impact we did last year at Regionals with a hand full of women," said Veney.

The first field event for the Pirates at the SoCal Regional Prelims will be 11:30 am on Saturday May 6 with the track events beginning at 12:20 pm at Cerritos.

WSC All-Conference Award Winners - Men
Daniel Alejandre, 2nd team, discus throw
Alejandro Ambriz, 2nd team, 1500m
Isaiah Batis, 2nd team, 4x100r
Max Carmona, 2nd team, 4x400r
Francisco Erazo, HM, 1500m
Tristan Griffith, 1st team 400m; 2nd team, 200m, 4x100r, 4x400r
Ahmad Jalloh, 2nd team, 4x100r
Jason Mesa, 2nd team 100m, 4x100r, 4x400r
Terrance Nunnery, 2nd team, long jump
Ryan Stevens, HM, 400 hurdles; 2nd team, 4x400r

WSC All-Conference Award Winners - Women
Aiyana Brown, HM, 100m; 2nd team, 4x100r
Dejahnae Brown, 2nd team high jump, 4x100r
Alyssa Carrillo, 1st team, hammer throw, discus throw; HM, shot put
Marissa Gonzales, 2nd team, 1500m
Patricia Ramirez, 2nd team, 4x400r
Karen Reyes, 2nd team, 400 hurdles, 4x400r
Miranda Rodriguez, 2nd team, 100m, 4x100r, 4x400r
Macy Schmidt HM, 10k
Leslie Valoaga, 2nd team, discus throw, HM, shot put
Serenity Valoaga, 2nd team, shot put; HM, discus throw