By Alexis Blue

At the conclusion of Cal Poly Humboldt’s indoor track and field season, three Lumberjacks received U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-West Region honors. The three honorees include women’s track and field athlete Isabel Perez-Zoghbi in the 800-meter and mile, as well as two men’s track and field athletes, Joseph Gonzalez for shot put and Michael Payan for pole vault.

In addition to receiving All-West Region honors, Payan and Gonzalez have carved their names into Humboldt’s record books by breaking school records in their distinguished events.

Sophomore Payan broke his own school record in pole vault with a winning clearance of 5.35 meters at the Wildcat Invitational, hosted by California State University, Chico, on March 14.

“I broke [the school record] at Chico Invitational, and it was a very exciting moment,’” Payan said. “Going into that meet, I knew that I was going to be on bigger sticks. I ended up getting on this fat pole… [thinking], ‘okay, my form is going to be rancid, because I do not trust this pole — it’s way too big for me.’ The first time I planted on it, I just kept clearing bars, and it felt insane.”

Payan said that while breaking the school record again felt surreal, he remains focused on pushing himself and is excited to see what else he can do.

“My biggest accomplishment this season has not been [setting personal records]… I think my biggest accomplishment is getting on bigger poles,” Payan said. “I’m pushing my biggest pole from last year, and I’m pushing it really easy.” 

Coming off a record-breaking freshman season and a strong start to his sophomore year, Payan hopes to continue getting on bigger poles and challenging himself in new ways.

“I think my mindset has been focused on just improving the little things in my form and technique,” Payan said. “I really want to be better at channeling pressure and adrenaline.” 

Junior Gonzalez smashed a 33-year-old standing school record with a winning shot put event of 16.35 meters at the Humboldt Invitational on March 28. Gonzalez elaborated on the accomplishment and explained that recording his personal record (PR) while breaking the school record has been his favorite moment of the season so far.  

“[My] biggest accomplishment from this season thus far is [breaking] the school record. I also hit the National Provisional Mark for shot put,” Gonzalez said. “I threw 17.01 [meters], which was a big PR for me. It was almost a two-foot PR, and it was my last throw. It was insane.”

Gonzalez delivered a winning shot put mark of 17.01 meters and also placed second in the discus at 47.18 meters, nearly the eighth-best throw in program history. His shot put mark was not only the new program record, but a Division II qualifying provisional mark. 

Gonzalez added that though their track and field season is long, his eyes are set on nationals. 

“We have a long season — as soon as we get back from summer, we’re already going. We’re training because we have an indoor season and an outdoor season. So, just managing those little injuries has been difficult,” Gonzalez said. “I’d say nationals is my biggest goal… but besides that, PR-ing is a very nice feeling. I can’t really compare it to anything else.”

Men’s track and field will compete at the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championships April 30-May 2 at California State University, San Marcos. Those who qualify for nationals will compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Outdoor Championships on May 21- 23.  

Alexis Blue is a senior at Cal Poly Humboldt, majoring in journalism – public relations and minoring in writing. In her free time, you’ll probably find her drinking coffee, watching sunsets, collecting shells on the beach and playing soccer.