SAN MATEO, Calif. – Three athletes competed at the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Track and Field championships over the weekend, earning three top five finishes in the state.
Freshman Aly Burke finished second in the high jump with a jump of 5 feet, 5 inches. She cleared 4-11, 5-1, 5-3 and 5-5 on her first attempt each but couldn't get 5-8.75. The winning jump was 5-7 from Myrna Gillas of Fullerton.
Burke was also fourth in the triple jump at 37-7.25. Burke first jumped 36-9.75, fouled on her second attempt and her final three attempts were all nearly within an inch of each other (37-5.75, 37-6.5 and 37-7.25). The winning distance was 40-4.25 by Justice Smith of Cerritos.
Sophomore Cole Parker was second in the state in the javelin with a throw of 178-2, which was achieved on his second attempt of the day. He nearly matched it on his fifth and sixth throws of the day, which were 177-11 and 177-10, respectively.
The winning throw was 201-8 by Marcos Gonzalez of Riverside Community College on his final attempt. Gonzalez had two throws better than Parker's until that point.
Chris Martinez competed in the pole vault but did not clear the height of 14-1.25.
"It's been a good year, a trying year after losing a wonderful young man in Cody Beaumont, and a year that I will always remember.," said Shasta College head track coach Bryon Hamilton. "The resilience and focus of our athletes and coaches through a difficult time was remarkable. The hard work paid off for many of our athletes and that was on full display at the State Championship Aly Burke and Cole Parker we're both named All-American. I am very proud of our athletes and our staff. It's been a pleasure and an honor to be the head coach over the past four years. I'm excited to see the direction program under new head coach Taylor Duncan."
DUNCAN TAKES OVER TRACK PROGRAM
Shasta College assistant track coach Taylor Duncan was named the new head track and field coach for Bryon Hamilton, who was named as the Knights' head football coach in March.
Duncan was in his first year as a Knights assistant, coaching Throws (shot put, discus, hammer and javelin) and the pole vault. He graduated from Del Norte High School in Crescent City where he was a three-sport athlete and competed mainly in pole vault for NCAA Division I UC Santa Barbara. He also coached track and field for two years at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico and teaches and coaches football at Central Valley High School in Shasta Lake.