Led by Alisha Greenlaw's six-event day, the Ventura College womens track and field team placed third at the Western State Conference Track and Field Championships in Bakersfield Friday. West Los Angeles won the team title with 177 points, followed by Canyons with 167 points and the Pirates with 106.5. VC finished ahead of Bakersfield (81), Glendale (54), Cuesta (43), Allan Hancock (34), Santa Barbara (30), Antelope Valley (25), Santa Monica (23), and Moorpark (14).
Greenlaw contributed 25 individual points by winning her specialty, the 100m hurdles, third in the 100 and 200 meters, and sixth in the triple jump. She completed her day by adding another 12 team points as a member of the third place 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays. Danielle Colvin joined in the point barrage running on both relays, fourth in the triple jump, and sixth place in the 400 meters. Tiara Litonjua placed second in the 400m hurdles, sixth in the 100m hurdles, and as a member of the third place 4x400m relay. Alyssa Carrillo placed fourth in the shot put and sixth in the hammer. Marissa Tobin scored on both relays and third in the pole vault.
Other Pirates getting into the scoring column included, Aizabelle Sarmiento (third 4x100 relay), Isabella Ironhill (fourth in the pole vault), Maria Villalobos (sixth in the 1500 meters), Gabriella Ramirez (sixth in the 400 and seventh in the 100m hurdles), and Brittany Cox (sixth in the 400 hurdles).
The men were not so fortunate as a team, finishing 10th behind champion Cuesta. The Cougars were followed by Canyons, Glendale, West LA, Moorpark, Antelope Valley, Bakersfield, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Ventura, and Allan Hancock. On the bright side for the men, Tristan Griffith came into the championships as the fourth ranked 400 meter runner, but took command of the race during the second turn and was never caught as he sprinted to victory.
"The women really showed their resolve today," commented head coach Tony Veney, "All together we will advance 15 young people to next week's SoCal Regional Prelims (held at Antelope Valley College) in 18 events."
The So Cal Preliminaries will start on Saturday May 7 with field events starting at 9:00 am and the first running event at 11:00 am.