FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton began the outdoor track and field season on Friday at the RCC Invitational and won 13 events overall on the day.
"I was really pleased with how the kids competed and how they supported each other and the energy they brought today," head coach John Elders said. "I think they are excited and energized."
Fullerton earned wins in both the men's and women's 4x100-meter relay. The women clocked a time of 46.50 with the quartet of Alayah Byers, Mariah Stewart, Elani Rice and Hailey Murdica. The men's win came in 40.61 courtesy of Marquis Rogers, Rasaun House, Mason Rollins and Marcel Espinoza.
"Both 4x100-meter relays opened up really strong, I liked both of those races," Elders said.
Stewart won the 100-meter hurdles with a wind-aided time of 14.20 and Karyn Best was third at 14.88 and Madison Moku came in fourth with a time of 14.98. Charles Kelly posted a personal-best time of 14.55 (+1.4 wind) on his way to a dominant victory in the 110-meter hurdles as second place was timed at 15.13. Kelly ran the open 400 meters for the first time in his career and clocked a time of 48.91 to take second place.
"Mariah had a big time improvement coming from her high school PR so that was impressive and Charles Kelly on the men's side had a PR as well."
The Titans went 1-2-3 in the women's 400-meter sprint as Mia Franco won with a time of 57.47 while Morgan Love was second at 59.19 and Rice posted a time of 59.51. Also in the sprints, Murdica won the 100 meters (12.02, +0.3 wind) and 200 meters (24.97, 0.0 wind). Clay finished second in the 200 meters with a time of 25.46.
For the men, Rollins won the 100 meters and 200 meters as well with respective times of 10.54 (+0.1 wind) and 21.25 (0.1 wind). His 100-meter time tied a personal-best mark while his 200-meter time was a personal best. House (10.63) and Espinoza (10.70) finished in third and fourth place in the 100 meters. Espinoza posted a personal-best in the 200 meters as well, taking second place with a time of 21.66.
"Mason ran well and looked strong to start the year off," Elders said.
Fullerton swept the 400-meter hurdles as Best won on the women's side with a time of 63.91 while Diego Courbis' time of 54.73 was good for first place as well.
Jacob Smith won the men's 1,500-meter race with a time of 3:55.60, the second-best time of his career in the event. Kyle Beck earned a win in the pole vault with a clearance of 16-0.75 (4.90m) while Ryan Polakiewicz was second at 14-11 (4.55m) and Ernest Collazo was third at the same height.
The Titans host the Ben Brown Invitational on Friday and Saturday next week at the Titan Track Complex on campus. Competition starts at 10:30 a.m. PT on both days.
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