The Ventura College men's and women's track and field teams hosted the Western State Conference North meet Friday at the VC Sportsplex, with the women placing second of the six participating teams and the men coming in fourth. Alyssa Carrillo led the Pirate women with a first place mark in the hammer throw and a third in the discus while Miranda Rodriguez and Alisa Houston posted the best marks in the 100m and 400m, respectively. Tristan Griffith came in first in the 200m and second in the 400m for the VC men while Jason Mesa won the 100m.
VC's women's team totaled 116.5 points, finishing behind Canyons, who scored 157. Bakersfield (95 points), Santa Barbara (78 points), Cuesta (64 points), and Allan Hancock (22.5points) rounded out the field.
Other Pirate women scoring Top-3 finishes included Patricia Ramirez (second, 400m), Karen Reyes (third, 400m and second 400m hurdles) Aiyana Brown (third, triple jump) and Serenity Valoaga (third, Shot Put). The women's 4x400m relay was victorious, while the short relay placed second.
"These scoring meets are where you cut your competitive eye teeth, and you hope it pays off in April and May," commented head coach Tony Veney. "We had a significant number of performance improvements from our first meet and that's what you want to see each week."
The men's team fished fourth with 92 points, behind Canyons (143.5 points), Bakersfield (111 points), and Cuesta (100 points), and just ahead of Santa Barbara (73.5 points) and Allan Hancock (25 points).
Other Top-3 Pirate fishers included Ahmad Jalloh (second, 100m), Terrance Nunnery (third, Long Jump), Steven Nolasco (second, Triple Jump), and Daniel Alejandre (third, Discus Throw).
"We finished fourth, but second was within our reach and only a little more competitive focus in some events is what we are missing right now," said Veney.
The Pirates have a week to train before heading to Occidental College for the Spring Break Track and Distance Carnival on Friday March 10.