Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Posted: Apr 21, 2017

Naugle and Nevitt Finish Third at Western State Conference Prelims, Qualify for SoCal Regionals

Naugle and Nevitt Finish Third at Western State Conference Prelims, Qualify for SoCal Regionals
Preview

Allan Hancock College's Brent Dionisio cleared a personal-best 6-feet, 10.75-inches to win the men's high jump title during the Western State Conference Preliminaries Friday at Bakersfield College. The prelims served as actual finals for field events, like the high jump, as well as one track event - the 10,000-meter run.  The top-six finishers in field events qualify for Southern California Regionals. For all track events, other than the 10K, athletes were trying to qualify for next week's Western State Conference Finals.

Dionisio, a Pioneer Valley High School graduate, topped his previous career-high of 6-feet, 9-inches to extend Hancock's streak to four straight years with at least one conference champion. The sophomore moved on to SoCal Regionals.

Sophomore Taylor Nevitt, the reigning women's shot put champion, finished third with a top throw of 36-feet, 8 inches. She also finished fourth in the women's discus with a mark of 110-feet, 8 inches. The Nipomo High School graduate qualified for regionals in both throwing events. 

Thrower Ben Wulfestieg finished sixth in the men's shot put final with a mark of 41-1. Laron  Gilchrist came in seventh in the discus throw with a top mark of 127-9.

On the track, the hot weather tested middle- and long-distance runners. Fortunately, Hancock's distance corps were up to the challenge. Sophomore Rachel Naugle finished third in the women's 10,000-meter final with a time of 40:10 to qualify for regionals.

On the men's side, Steven Youngblood won his heat in the men's 1,500 prelims with a time of 4:06 to advance to next week's final. The Pioneer Valley High School graduate later came in tenth in the 10K final with a time of 35:11.

Both Naugle and Youngblood also qualified for next week's steeplechase final at the WSC Finals at Moorpark College. On top of the track events, next week will feature finals in field events like the pole vault, triple jump, javelin throw and hammer throw.