Batty Breaks Record to Win WSC Title, Inay Advances to Finals at WSC Prelims

Freshman Haleigh Batty broke her own Allan Hancock College record and won a Western State Conference (WSC) women's long jump championship on Friday during the WSC Prelims on Friday at Santa Monica College. The meet served as the finals for a handful events including the men's and women's long jump, high jump, discus throw, shot put and 10,000-meter events. The meet primarily served as a chance for runners to qualify for the WSC Finals, scheduled for next Friday at Ventura College.

Batty broke her own college record by three inches with a top jump of 19 feet, 10.25 inches. The Cabrillo High School graduate punched a ticket to the Southern California Regional Prelims scheduled for May 4-5 at San Diego Mesa College. The top six in field events advanced to regionals. Batty also holds the college's women's high jump record with a clearance of 5'1.75", but she did not compete in the high jump event Friday.

Under the leadership of Head Coach Louie Quintana, Hancock extended its streak to five straight years with at least one conference champion. The previous winners included Brent Dionisio (2017, men's high jump); Luke Nickelson (2016, men's long jump); Taylor Nevitt (2016, women's shot put); Jared Springers (2015, men's discus throw); Steve de Comarmond (2014, men's 110-meter hurdles); Jonathon General (2014, 100-meter dash).

Freshman Cherry Inay advanced to the finals in two events. She ran the fourth-fastest time in the women's 100 meter hurdles preliminary heats to advance to next week's final. The Pioneer Valley High School graduate was clocked in 16.68 seconds. She also punched her ticket to the final in the 400 hurdles with a time of 1:11.51 to finish fourth in her heat and seventh overall in the prelims.

Next Friday's Western State Conference Finals at Ventura College will serve as the finals for track events, including the 5K, as well as the javelin throw, hammer throw, triple jump and pole vault events.

A handful of Bulldogs competed in the prelims, but did not advance to the finals. Freshman Amaris Baxter finished 22nd in the 200 meter dash with a time of 29.25 seconds, while sophomore Michaella Praska placed 25th with a time of 32.90. Baxter finished 13th in the 100 with a time of 14.06 seconds, while Praska ran it in 16.22 seconds to finish 19th overall.

In the men's 100 meter dash,, sophomore Nate Tulloch was clocked in 12.06 seconds for 28th place, Luis Soto placed 36th with a time of 12.93, Luis Lua came in 38th at 13.34 seconds and Jaiden Perkins in 40th with a time of 14.32 seconds. Tulloch ran the 200 in 24.81, while Soto was clocked in 26.65, Lua in 27.73 and Perkins in 29.6 seconds. Freshman Edgar Barajas finished 34th overall in the men's 800 meter run with a time of 2:10.72 and 40th in the 1,500 with a time of 4:56.92. Yovany Pienda placed 31st overall in the 1500 with a time of 4:36.55 and 13th in the 10K with a time of 36.13. Freshman David Tyler came in 37th in the 1500 with a time of 4:51.63.