The VC men's and women's track and field teams stayed close to home Friday, taking on Cuesta and Moorpark at the 1st Annual Moorpark Open. The non-scoring affair also included numerous open/unattached athletes looking to qualify for USATF. Eleven Pirates took home first place honors highlighted by Miranda Rodriguez's 100 and 200 meter wins.
Rodriguez ran the 200m in 26.52, which tied her No. 10 all-time at VC, while her 100 win left her 0.07 seconds from the all-time list. Other Pirate women with gold medal performances included Dejahnae Brown with the fifth best high jump all-time, Kenna Perez (5k), Amanda Wendt (800 meters), Serenity Valoaga (shot put), and Alyssa Carrillo (discus throw). Carrillo added a second (shot put) and third (hammer throw), Valoaga placed second in the discus throw and third in the javelin throw, Aiyana Brown placed second in the 100 meters and third in the high jump (sixth all-time), and Macy Schmidt's second in the 5k rounded out a fine afternoon for the women.
On the men's side, Jason Mesa (100 meters) joined teammates Steven Nolasco (triple jump), Ronnie Parker (high jump), Terrance Nunnery (long jump), and Daniel Alejandre (discus throw) with first-place finishes on the day.
"After asking the young people to hold down five and sometimes six events in two scoring meets," said head coach Tony Veney, "I like meets like this allowing the team a chance to focus on the event(s) they hope will be their ticket to the postseason."
The Pirates will compete next at the Santa Barbara Easter Open Friday April 14. Field events start at 10:00 am with the javelin and hammer throw competitions at Westmont College while the first track event goes off at noon at SBCC's La Playa Stadium.