Ventura College track and field hosted the first-ever Pirate Invitational Saturday at the VC Sportsplex, providing a great opportunity for the Pirate athletes to open their season at home. The meet was a non-scored event, allowing valuable early-season competition experience. Mayagrace Wilson took full advantage of the opportunity with golds in the 100m and 200m while Brianna Torres won the 5000m. Both the women's and men's 4x100m relay team also broke the tape first.
Wilson (Agoura) claimed gold in the 100m and 200m sprints, and ran the first leg of the 4x100m relay along with Kelsey Crist (Foothill Tech), Chloe Williams (Buena), Amia Cason (Oxnard). Torres (Oxnard) won the 500m for the Pirates' other gold-medal performance.
Elizabeth Mejia (Oxnard) was second in the 400m hurdles and also finished fourth in 100m hurdles while Chloe Williams (Buena) earned the bronze in the 100m. Ashley Crist (Foothill Tech) placed third in long jump, sixth in high jump while younger sister K. Crist was sixth in 100m and sixth in the long jump. Leshelle Lee (Channel Islands) came in seventh in long jump and eighth in the high jump while Guadalupe Jimenez (Channel Islands) placed fourth in the hammer throw and seventh in the discus. VC's 4x400m relay team of Mejia, Dulce Quezada (Pacifica), Yesenia (Molina) Wynne (Oxnard), and Torres.
Ventura's 4x100 m relay team of Camren Harris (Oxnard), Trevor McCarthy (St. Bonaventure), Joseph Moore (Moorpark) and Micah Contreras (Camarillo) eaned the Pirate men's only first place finish of the day. McCarthy (St. Bonaventure) claimed silver in the 100m while Zac Crist (Foothill Tech) won bronze in the long jump. Cole Everett (Nordhoff) placed third in the high jump and Aaron Giron (Oxnard) was fifth in the 400m hurdles. Jerry Ayala (Rio Mesa): earned a fifth-place finish in the hammer throw, Contreras was seventh in the 100m, and Shaun Tolson (Oxnard) came in sixth in the 400m.
"It was fantastic to host our first Pirate Invitational and give our athletes the chance to compete at home to start the season," said head coach Tom Czerwinski.
"The meet provided a great environment for them to shake off any early-season nerves and see where they stand as we head into the rest of the year. I'm looking forward to watching this group develop throughout the season and into conference competition."
"It was a great way to kick off the season, and we're excited to see how these athletes progress as we head into conference competition."
Ventura next competes in the Western State Conference North meet at Cuesta College on Friday Feb. 28.