Nevitt and Nickelson Capture Conference Titles, Qualify for SoCal Prelims

Freshmen Taylor Nevitt and Luke Nickelson, both Nipomo High School graduates, won individual Western State Conference track and field titles Friday during the WSC Prelims at College of the Canyons. The preliminary meet served as the conference finals for a handful of field events, like the women's shot put won by Nevitt and men's long jump captured by Nickelson.

Nevitt won the women's shot put with a top mark of 38 feet, 2.25 inches. The freshman's top throw came on her sixth and final toss increasing her lead to nearly two feet. She became the first Hancock woman to win a conference title since Bobbi Patton in 2005.  Nevitt also finished third in the javelin throw. She climbed from eighth to third on her final throw that traveled 85 feet, one inch.  

Nickelson finished first in the men's long jump with a mark of 22 feet, 11.25 inches. The freshman's top mark came on the first of six attempts. His margin of victory was six inches. It marked the third straight year the Hancock men's program earned a conference title (2014- Jonathon General, 100 m run and Steven deComarmond, 110 m hurdles; 2015- Jared Springer, discus throw) 

By finishing in the top six in field events, Nevitt and Nickelson advanced to the Southern California Preliminaries, which are set for May 6 at Antelope Valley College.

Middle distance runner Rachel Naugle finished second in her heat, and ran the third fastest time overall in the prelims of the women's 1,500 meter. Her time of 5:06 qualified her for a spot in next week's final. 

Nickelson and Nevitt will also have a chance to earn another conference title next week at the WSC Finals in the discus throw and triple jump respectively. The WSC Championships will be at Bakersfield College Friday, April 29.

The Hancock women sit in fifth place out of 10 teams with 16 points, all earned by Nevitt. The Hancock men have 10 points from Nickelson, which places them in ninth place out of 11.