Three Track Athletes Head to SoCal Regional Looking to Qualify for State Meet
Three freshmen track and field athletes, who all qualified for multiple events, will represent Allan Hancock College this weekend at the Southern California Regional Prelims. Thrower Taylor Nevitt, distance runner Rachel Naugle and jumper Luke Nickelson will be in action Saturday, May 7, at Antelope Valley College. The top 12 in each event during the prelims move on to next weekend's SoCal Finals at AVC.
"All three of our athletes have a great shot at advancing to the SoCal finals," said Hancock head coach Louie Quintana. "They are peaking at the right time."
Nevitt qualified for regionals in four throwing events: discus throw, shot put, hammer throw and javelin. She opted to skip the hammer throw, which she described as her weakest event.
"I am really excited to compete at regionals," said Nevitt, who won three straight league titles in the shot put and discus throw events at Nipomo High School. "This week, I am focused on fine tuning my technique so I can find and stay in a groove during the meet."
Nevitt won the Western State Conference title in the shot put last month with a season-best mark of 38 feet, 2.25 inches. She became the first Hancock woman to win a conference title in 11 years. Currently, Nevitt ranks seventh in the field of nearly two dozen qualifiers in the shot put. Nevitt's top throw of 129-4 in the discus throw sits fourth among regional qualifiers. The freshman ranks 18th in the javelin throw at 85-1.
Nickelson qualified for regionals in the long jump and triple jump events. During the conference championships, the Nipomo High School graduate won the long jump and finished seventh in the triple jump.
"I was blown away when I won a conference title in the long jump," said Nickelson. "I feel like I've been getting better and better as the season progresses and I know I have some personal- best jumps left in me."
His top qualifying mark in the long jump of 22 feet, 11.25 inches, which he recorded at the conference finals, ranks fourth in the regional field. He sits 19th in the triple jump with a mark of 43-8.
Naugle qualified for SoCal in the women's 1,500-, and 5,000-meter runs. She finished sixth in the 1,500 final at conference with a personal-best time of 5:05.56, and sixth in the 5K final in 19:57.71 to qualify.
"I am so excited to qualify for regionals because this is my first year competing on track," said Naugle, who played soccer for Hancock in 2014. "Regionals was a goal of mine from the beginning, so to accomplish it is very encouraging."
The freshman ranks 13th in the 1,500 field and 17th in the 5K with a qualifying time of 19:16.24.
"I've always had the drive and give it my all, and I plan to do just that," said Naugle.
Naugle will compete in the 1,500 prelims this weekend where a top 12 finish will secure her a spot in the SoCal Finals. She automatically qualified for next weekend's 5,000 final with her sixth place finish at conference.
Nickelson and Nevitt will participate in all of their events this weekend. The top 12 in each event advance to next weekend's SoCal Finals.
During the finals, the top nine finishers in field events and the top six in track events qualify for the state meet. The 2016 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Track and Field Championships will take place May 20-21 at San Diego Mesa College.
"I am focused on and determined to qualify for state," said Nickelson. "I've never been to San Diego before and this is my chance."
The last Hancock athlete to qualify for state was Kelly Jarrett in 2012.