Springer Breaks School Record and Finishes Second, Dionisio Soars to Fourth at WSC Prelims

Jared Springer broke his own school record by 11 feet and finished second in the men's hammer throw final for the Allan Hancock College men's track and field team during the Western State Conference Preliminaries in Ventura on Friday. The meet served as the preliminary round for track events and the finals for several field events.

Springer's third throw of the day traveled the farthest, 146 feet, 10 inches, which surpassed the school record he set last month by 11 feet. The Nipomo High School graduate entered the meet seeded sixth in the event, but surpassed all but Antelope Valley College's Ryan Alvarez who won the conference title with a mark of 148-7.  With his runner-up finish, Springer earned eight points for the Bulldogs and earned him a spot in next month's Southern California Regionals.

Pioneer Valley High School graduate Brent Dionisio, a freshman, cleared 6 feet, 2.75 inches and finished fourth in the men's high jump final. Santa Barbara's Luke McAllister won by clearing 6-4.25.  Dionisio finished in a three-way tie for second, but was awarded fourth place because he required more attempts to clear 6-2.75. Dionisio earned five points for Hancock's team score and qualified for the SoCal Regionals with his top six finish.

Freshman Kendrick Keszler came in seventh in the men's javelin throw with a top distance of 146-10 to earn two points. Santa Barbara's Aaron Mateski won the event with a throw of 180-08.

Sophomore Jonathon General qualified for the men's 100 meter dash final. The reigning conference champion in the event ran the seventh fastest qualifying time on Friday at 10.83 seconds. The fastest nine preliminary times advanced to the final.  He also finished fourteenth in the long jump with a mark of 20-5.75. Keszler came in seventeenth with a mark of 20-2.5.

Overall, the Bulldogs earned 15 points in the team standings headed into next Friday's finals at Santa Barbara City College.  Springer will compete in the men's shot put and discus throw finals next week.