Ready! Get set! Go! Yes, if you didn’t already know, track season is off and running like never before. This year’s Yuba College track team is “running over” with great talent and athleticism. The 49ers, considered one of the top track and field teams in the nation, have taken on some great competition so far this year and have some great athletes.Coaches Marie Kroeger and Geoff Wahl have had success bringing out the talent in these young athletes. Returning this year is Brianna Cardenas, last track season’s Bay Valley Conference Outstanding Field Event Athlete. Other fine athletes include Sean Warner, Zack Stuller, Pernell Haygood, Gavin Elkins, Rachel Mintz and Liz Jacobsen.Yuba has sent athletes near and far to compete in track meets. This season Brianna Cardenas and Liz Jacobsen represented Yuba at the Elite Meet held at the American Community College in San Diego. Cardenas placed fourth in the high jump while Jacobsen took a solid sixth place in the javelin. The ten best community college athletes in the nation competed in each of the events at the Elite Meet.Yuba College track athletes also excelled at the Panther Invitational held at Sacramento City College. The speedy Pernell Haygood won the 400 meters with a time of 49.87 seconds, finishing second in the 200 meters, coming in at 21.81 seconds. Sean Warner also had an outstanding day at Sac City. The East Nicolaus product finished fourth in the javelin with a school record 176 feet and 7 inches. Both athletes were named Yuba College co-athletes of the week. Yuba College also competed in the Ed Adams Invitational in Salinas. This event, also known as “The Small School State Championships,” is attended by many smaller colleges. The Yuba women finished second overall at the meet with Brianna Cardenas finishing first in the high jump with a jump of five feet five inches. Liz Jacobsen placed was first in the javelin and fourth in the shot put. Additionally the 49ers 4-by-100 relay team of Erika Rennie, Cardenas, Rachel Mintz and Quatisha Bailey placed second. Both Cardenas and Jacobsen were selected as All-American during that week as well.The Yuba men finished thirteenth overall in the Ed Adams Invitational. Mike Rickel was fifth in the pole vault while Gavin Elkins placed sixth in the javelin. Zack Stuller picked up a fourth place decision in the 5,000 meters. The Yuba men’s 4-by-100 team of Seth Shank, David Jones, Rickel and Elkins took fifth. It has been a great year so far for the Yuba College track team, and they look to improve their performance in upcoming meets. The track season is continuing and there are still opportunities to see the 49ers in action. Many of these athletes are still maturing and developing. There is no question of their talent. It is very possible that one of these stars may turn out to be the next Stacy Dragila.
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