photo by Mike Daly

OROVILLE, Calif. – The spring is off to a strong start for the Knights women's track and field team.

In the first preseason meet against Golden Valley Conference foes, the Shasta College women's team won five individual events and 19 spots collected points to win the meet.

Shasta earned 72 points to beat Yuba College (52), Butte College (41) and College of the Siskiyous (25), respectively. None of Knights were double-event winners but seven placed in multiple events.

"Our women's team has done a great job of starting the season strong," Shasta head track and field coach Bryon Hamilton said. "We know it's a very long season but this team has a lot of potential; we are excited to see what this team can achieve. We will get All-American Cassie Young back this week and will also add freshman Julia Hill (held over from basketball). It should be a fun day at Yuba College on Saturday."

For the runners, Julisa Wold won the 100-meter dash in 13.19 seconds and finished second in the 200 (29.28). Natalie Garcia-Gomez won the 800 (3:06.43) and was second in the 1,500 (6:29.62). The Knights' 4x100 relay team of Madison Barrigan, Kayla Bickford, Wold and Maddison Smedley won in 52.35 and the 4x400 relay team of Julie Bradley, Sabrina Peppel, Regin Loftin and Garcia-Gomez won in 5:28.82. Bradley was also second in the 800 (3:13.92) and third in the 1,500 (6:33.17), and Peppel was third in the 800 (3:25.47) and fourth in the 1,500 (6:49.43).

Claire Walton was the lone Knight to win a field event, finishing first in the shot put (36 feet, 3 inches). She was third in the discus (108-9). Alyson Zuidema was second in the shot put (25-5) and Loftin was second in the javelin with a throw of 74-4.

Bickford competed in both track and field events, finishing third in the 200 (29.61), second in the 400 (1:07.57), and fourth in the javelin (58-6.75). Barrigan was third in the 100 (14.52) and fourth in the long jump (14-4).

Shasta men take second at GVC Open

The Knights won five events, including a double-event win from Chris Rosero, and 10 competitors place in their events for a second overall team finish. Butte College won with 94 points, followed by Shasta (78), Yuba (53.5), unattached participants (17) and College of the Siskiyous (8.5).

Shasta's 4x100 relay team of Kenio Mike Jr, Karnell Calloway, Cody Beaumont and Rosero won in 43.58 and the Knights' 4x400 relay team of Erik Valdez, Patrick Bigelow, Joseph Williams and Conor Nix was second in 4:05.21.

Rosero placed in three individual events, winning the 100 (11.49) and 200 (23.14). He was also seventh in the long jump (19-9). Beaumont won the long jump with a jump of 21-6.25 and was second in the 100 (11.57). Caleb Tolbertson won the 400 hurdles (1:07.59).

Mike Jr was third in the 100 (11.67), Samuel Grafe was fourth in the 1,500 (4:33.59), Michael Williams was seventh in the 800 (2:46.02) and seventh in the 1,500 (5:26.86), and Rogelio Maldanado was eighth in the 800 (3:04.66) and eighth in the 1,500 (6:02.36).

In the field events, Aedan Slack was third in the hammer throw (129-7.5), Ashton Vanzant was fourth in the long jump (20-8.4), Payton Harrell was fourth in the discus (126-3.75), and Peter Saveride was fifth in the javelin throw (144-11.75).

Shasta heads to Yuba College Saturday for the 49er Invite at 10 a.m.