Six Bulldogs Headed to SoCal Prelims
Six Allan Hancock College track and field athletes qualified for this weekend's Southern California Prelims at Riverside College. Steven de Comarmond, Jonathon General, Bruce Detter, Gregory Uzueta, Sylvana Swain and Cassandra Bantz will compete on Saturday, May 3, for spots in next week's SoCal Finals.
de Comarmond will compete in three individual events, the 200 and 400 meter dashes, as well as the 110 meter high hurdles. The sophomore won the 110 hurdles at last week's Western State Conference Championships with a time of 15.56 seconds giving Hancock its first individual conference title in eight years. He also finished second in the 200 at 22.72 seconds and fifth in the 400 meter dash in 50.14 seconds.
"I am really psyched for the meet. I didn't think I would make it in one event, let alone three," said de Comarmond. "I did not run the hurdles in the first three meets and never really ran the 400 until this year either."
General sprinted to the 100 meter dash title at last week's WSC Championships with a season-best time of 10.85 seconds. The freshman's personal-best is 10.58 seconds, which he ran in high school in Florida.
"My goal is to advance to the SoCal Finals and if possible run another season-best time in the process," said General, who also plays defensive end for the Hancock football team.
Detter, a Pioneer Valley High School graduate, will compete at SoCal Prelims for the second time in his career. The sophomore qualified for the discus throw and hammer throw events. Detter finished third in the discus (125 feet, nine inches) and second in the hammer (126-4) during the conference championships.
"I want to break the school record in the hammer," said Detter, referring to the Hancock record of 134-11 set in 2010.
Uzueta, a freshman from Nipomo High School, will compete in the discus throw. He qualified with a fifth place finish at conference with a top throw of 113-9. "It is a relief to qualify as a freshman because I know I have that potential," said Uzueta. "I would be thrilled if I could reach 125, 130 feet. Either way, it will be a huge boost for me headed into next season."
Both Bantz and Swain earned spots this week in the SoCal Prelims as alternates. Only the top six finishers at last week's conference meet were guaranteed spots.
Swain will compete in the triple jump. The sophomore and Righetti High School graduate's top jump last week was 30-6. Her personal-best is 35 feet.
Bantz, a Nipomo High School graduate, earned a spot in the women's pole vault competition. She cleared 7-10 last week. Her personal-best is 9-3.
"The coaching staff is thrilled to have six athletes at SoCals," said 13-year head coach Louie Quintana. "The new track has really helped recruit athletes to our program and helped in our training. We are seeing the results."
The men's team finished sixth at least week's WSC Championships for the program's best finish at the meet since 1985.
Photo: Courtesy of Elisa Ramirez, Santa Maria Times Photographer