RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Cal State Fullerton opened up the 2014 season with a bang, as the team took home three first-place finishes and 19 top-four finishes overall on Saturday at the Riverside CC quadrangular meet at Wheelock Stadium.
Junior Ana Valdovinos continued to build what already was a solid indoor season for her, claiming her first win of the outdoor season, while recording a personal best in the women's 3000-meter run (10:27.09). Dalton Hall also capped off an impressive day for the Titans in the 3000-meter run as the freshman also placed first in the event with a time of 8:47.44.
Chris Vega (52.20m) dominated the javelin throw and took home first place, as Phillip Wogee (50.93m) had a performance to remember as well, as he finished right behind Vega in the event.
The Titan jumpers had a very succesful day for both the men and women. On the men's side, Malek Walls posted a personal best long jump of 6.91m to take home second place, while Jonathan Tolentino placed third in the triple jump with a leap of 13.74m. In the high jump, Malik Johnson finished third with a best jump of 2.0m
Walls was the only Fullerton athlete to compete in a sprint event as the junior placed fourth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.78.
For the Titan women, Brionna Thompson had a best long jump leap of 4.99m to finish second, while Alexis Washington and Leah Stevens posted a 1.50m high jump to also finish second.
"Overall it was a really good opening meet where we saw a lot of positive results," said head coach John Elders. "It was nice to just get out there and get our feet wet as we prepate for the upcoming competition."
Freshman Shelby Hernandez Jr. had a very impressive collegiate debut as the La Mesa, Calif., native finished second in the 1500-meter after posting a time of 4:02.25. Also, freshman Tanner love finished one place behind Hernandez after finishing with a time of 4:03.79.
Celinda Manzo (4:59.70) and Abby Buckhoff (5:01.55) took fifth and sixth respectively in the women's 1500-meter to finish off what was a strong weekend for the Titan women.
In the pole vault, freshman Paris Pijuan posted a personal best of 4.65m as he placed second, while on the women's side Bryn Williamson finished third with a best of 3.26m.
After an impressive indoor season, Amanda Mercado got her first action of the year in the hammer throw as she finished fourth with a best toss of 45.07m. On the men's side sophomore Steven Parsons placed sixth with a throw of 48.27m.
The Titans will resume their season next Friday and Saturday as they'' host the Ben Brown Invitational at the Titan Track and Field complex.