The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: Track and Field

  • Last Cal Poly Humboldt home track meet of the year

    Last Cal Poly Humboldt home track meet of the year

    by Eddie Carpenter

    On March 26, Cal Poly Humboldt hosted an invitational track meet. The Jacks have competed in a total of six meets so far. This was Humboldt’s first official home track meet of the season. The event kicked off with the women’s and men’s 4×100 meter relay. It was a blink-and-you-miss-it experience consisting of six rival teams.

    Sophomore Joy Hano competed in the long jump, 100-meter hurdles, 100-meter open, and the 4×400 meter relay. She described how ecstatic she felt during her events.

    Photo by Morgan Hancock | Joy Hano leads the 100-meter hurdles at the Cal Poly Humboldt Track invitational on March 26

    “I had this energy in my body just being home,” Hano said. “After a really long stretch on the road, it felt amazing. It was super exciting. Literally, I could not contain my excitement all week long. It’s just an amazing feeling being home. So happy that we have great weather today and a great showing.”

    Hano set new personal records in all of her events. After some hardships in long jump at an OSU meet, Hano was able to come back and set a personal record by five inches. She placed first place in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.85 seconds, third in the 100-meter run, and set a personal record by 0.2 seconds with a time of 12.63 seconds. She also competed in the 400-meter relay where she dropped a second from her personal best time.

    Decathlete Travis Allen believed that the invitational helped him prepare for upcoming meets.

    “I had some highlights. Did pole vault, cleared a couple heights,” Allen said. “Did the hurdles, got a PR there… Going to these events, you’re not going to see improvements every single time, but if I can get more points here and there overall, that’s going to help my decathlon.”

    Distance runner Elliot Portillo was enthusiastic about his performances and those of his peers.

    “Today I ran the 1500 meter and the 1000 meter. I think that the training we’ve been doing- we’ve been out here pretty much since January,” Portillo said. “I think now as we get into the mid of our season, everyone’s been seeing a lot of improvement. Even if you see today, a lot of people came away with personal bests in a kind of more low-key event…Everyone came out today much more confident in their ability to execute when it matters.”

    Portillo hopes to put a time on the record list at the school before he leaves.

    Humboldt’s first section of 4×100 men’s relay team placed third with a time of 3:34.02. Their second section of 4×100 men’s relay was not recorded because they did not finish. In the women’s 4×400 meter relay, Humboldt placed second with a time of 4:02:87. Humboldt athletes are now preparing for the Mike Fanelli Track Classic on March 31.

  • Jacks on track

    by Eddie Carpenter

    Cal Poly Humboldt hosted the annual Green and Gold track meet at the Redwood Bowl on Feb. 12. In the past, the Green and Gold has been an invitational meet open to alumni as well as all local athletes, but due to precautionary measures and local COVID-19 restrictions, only collegiate entries were permitted.

    The event kicked off with the national anthem, and the Cal Poly Humboldt track and field athletes all joined at center field for an ecstatic cheer. It was a beautiful, sunny day with nothing but blue skies, perfect weather to run in.

    Head track and field coach Sarah Ingram says a huge amount of effort went into preparing the Jacks for this event.

    “We’ve been training since August… both on the track and in the weight room,” Ingram said. “It was a really fun atmosphere. The 400-meter log relay is not something we usually have, but it was a team bonding event.”

    Women’s team captain Joy Hano is also proud of her team’s strategy for game day.

    “We spent a lot of time visualizing and training. Mindful training is what we did the most,” Hano said. “I do the 100-meter hurdles, long jump, and today I did the 150 meter and the log relay. It felt great. There were a lot of nerves, but being here in front of our home crowd made it all worth it and made the nerves go away.”

    College of the Redwoods coach Reed Elmore shared what it was like to see his former athletes compete at last weekend’s scrimmage.

    “[As a coach], you don’t always get the best athletes. Our main goal is to get our athletes to work together as a team. We want them to compete with each other and not against each other,” Elmore said. “It’s exciting! We’re a developmental program. We take kids that need love and a little extra time. Humboldt does something different. We’ve been working with Sarah and Jamie to bridge that gap. [We make] sure everyone feels supported. We had a good performance, but our important races are at the end of the season.”

    Junior thrower Savannah Henninger wrote down all the marks for the throwing events. She is one of those athletes who transitioned from a Corsair to a Lumberjack.

    “It was definitely super weird. It’s not necessarily better or worse,” Henninger said. “It was a different atmosphere. Both Sarah and Reed are amazing advocates for their athletes, so that really helped a lot. I saw a lot of team support. Everybody was cheering their teammates on as best as they were able to, there was a lot of camaraderie going around.”

    In the latter half of the scrimmage, many athletes participated in the 400-meter annual log relay. As the last athlete rounded the corner, a member of the crowd shouted out, “Better start running with a purpose!”

  • Trackside Tales with Elliott Portillo

    Trackside Tales with Elliott Portillo

    First-hand account from Humboldt State distance runner Elliott Portillo

    For track and field athletes like myself, March usually means a return to early season competition after a long, cold winter of preparation and training. On March 6 and 7, Humboldt State University’s Track and Field team traveled to Turlock, California to participate at the 2020 Kim Duyst Invitational at Stanislaus State University.

    Traditionally, this meet brings together programs from across Northern and Central California to post early season times and marks. For myself and other track-based Lumberjacks, it means a long and winding drive down Highway 101 on a large and cumbersome charter bus with very little leg room and one bathroom for around 40 runners, jumpers and throwers.

    As the trip progressed, the foggy redwood canopy gave way to neat rows and columns of orchards and, eventually, the urban jungle on both sides of the I-5 through Stockton, Modesto and Turlock.

    As a whole, my race, a morning event, was uneventful. I found myself heading to the front of a large pack of runners after a few laps, and wound up leading the race for a good two miles in a very strong headwind. The racers must have enjoyed my wind-breaking, as nobody made a move to pass me until a few laps to go. Three runners passed me in the last few laps, leaving my decrepit body in their wake after all of my heavy lifting.

    One advantage of racing early in the morning is the opportunity to watch teammates compete, and boy was I in for a show. I got to see senior Jaye Washington finish second in the long jump, while Brailee VandenBoom tied for first place in the high jump. These were just a handful of the performances I was able to view during my downtime after my race. Even if an athlete didn’t make it to the podium, there was plenty to celebrate—a new personal best, or out-leaning someone at the line to gain one more spot.

    Things only heated up as the day progressed. The weather alternated between sunny and overcast, with swaths of clouds blanketing the vast expanse of the Central Valley. In the evening, eight Humboldt State women toed the line for the fastest race of the 5,000 meter run, made up of 12 and a half laps and just over three circular miles of Stanislaus’s faded red oval.

    Of those eight Humboldt runners, six women ran fast enough to qualify for the California Collegiate Athletic Association championships in May. Junior Cessair McKinney ran with the top group for most of the race, at one point running to the front and pushing the pace, showing no regard for how bad she might feel later. Her teammate, freshman Lucy Atkinson, hung back in the next pack of runners.

    Eventually, the two groups strung out and splintered, as the dense pack turned into a single file parade around the track. McKinney finished six, while Atkinson finished fourth.

    It was just our luck that just as we began packing up to leave, the skies, which had been threatening rain all day, finally opened up and unleashed a downpour.

    I guess we brought a bit of Humboldt with us after all.

  • Track and field opens with green and gold

    Track and field opens with green and gold

    The men’s and women’s track team competed against it’s neighbors the College of the Redwoods on Feb. 16. National Championship qualifiers and alumni from last season were also honored at the meet.

    Michel-Ange Siaba is a sophomore majoring in criminology and social justice at HSU. Siaba is a jumper and thrower looking to build upon his success of last season. Michel placed in second after HSU alumni Teigan Eilers (6.41m).

    “For the first meet of the season, it was better than what I jumped last year so I can see my improvements,” Siaba said. “Especially because the mark I got today was pretty close to my personal best record. It’s rewarding when I see my teammates gain confidence and we mature as a strong team.”

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    Sophomore Michel-Ange Siaba competed in different events throughout the day and finished with a strong 6.41 meter long jump earning him second place. | Photo by Matt Shiffler

    Junior Brailee Vandenboom majors in business administration with an emphasis in marketing. Vandenboom sprints and also jumps placing in three separate events. First in 100 meters, 400 meters, and high jump. The 100 meter dash, Vandenboom came in at 13.34 seconds. She finished The 400-meter dash at 1:01.88, and the high jump at (1.62 m).

    “I haven’t been practicing at my best, and it was a real big surprise,” Vandenboom said. “I think it’s setting me up for the entire season. We’re going to have a solid team this year, we’ve always had like a young team in the past, and now we’re all maturing.”

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    Junior Brailee Vandenbroom gets first place in all three of her events, the 100-meter, 400-meter, and women’s high jump at Saturdays Green and Gold Open. Photo credit: Matt Shiffler

    Chee Shorty is an undecided student at the College of the Redwoods. Before trying out track Shorty played football, baseball, and tennis. Chee is being recruited by HSU track and field. Although it was his first time throwing the javelin, he never gave up. On his first and second throw posted a scratch. However, on his very last chance, he got the job done placing first, by throwing 34.79 meters which is about 114 feet.

    “I felt surprised honestly,” Shorty said. “This is my first time. I didn’t even know the rules. I liked how everyone around me was encouraging and reminded me not to pass the line.”

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    The down pour didn’t stop sophomores Kaylee Thompson and Cessair McKinney during Saturday’s Green and Gold Open. | Photo by Thomas Lal

    Sophomore physical therapy major Jared Del Real throws shot put and discus. Del Real earned a first place finish in shot put with a 14.14. Breaking the 14 meter mark is encouraging and an impressive feat for a sophomore.

    “I scratched on my second throw,” Del Real said. “I tried to stay focused, I felt like I had some more left in me but I’m super excited and we’ve been working really hard this offseason. We’ll be changing people’s minds about the Humboldt State men’s track and field. We have a competition mindset and limit the number of throws to get the best outcome possible.”

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    Junior Jaye Washington finished first in men’s triple jump and placed second in the long jump on Feb. 16 inside the rain filled Redwood Bowl. | Photo by Matt Shiffler

    Humboldt State track & field hit the road against Chico State Feb 28 and March 1. The calendar also opens up to tough division one competition during the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, CA on March 29 and 30.

  • Track and field dominates in Humboldt Invite

    Track and field dominates in Humboldt Invite

    The Humboldt State track and field team shined at the annual Humboldt Invite on March 24, despite harsh weather conditions and a day where the seniors were honored in their last home meet at HSU.

    Six different universities, including Sonoma State, Cal State East Bay, Southern Oregon, Oregon Tech, De Anza and College of the Redwoods competed at the Redwood Bowl in the midst of a cold and wet day. The temperature was cold, accompanied by harsh winds and heavy rain.

    “It’s pretty miserable,” head coach Sarah Ingram said. “[Our team’s] marks might not be where they want them to be today, but there’s only so much you can do in weather like this.”

    The women were led by senior standouts Tatiana Gillick and Annie Roberts, who finished in the top three of the 800m and 1500m. Gillick took the top spot in both, however, with an impressive time of 2:17.36 in the 800 meter. In the 1500 meter, Gillick passed Roberts on the final lap. She gave her teammate a little credit, too.

    “I feel pretty confident,” Gillick said. “I really focused on the third lap, and Annie really helped with that.”

    Sophomore Brailee VandenBoom continued her excellent season with another stellar performance. VandenBoom, who is just two weeks from winning the California Collegiate Athletic Association Field Athlete of the Week honors, tied for first in the 100 meter (12.61) and took sole possession of first place in the high jump with a mark of 1.64 meters.

    Lily Bankas continued to lead the women’s throwing team as she set the highest mark of the meet at shot put (11.00 meters). Bankas also finished first in discus, as well as a mark of 38.19 meters.

    For the men, senior Dylan Roberts paced the triple jump with a mark of 13.64 meters. Roberts also placed second in the long jump at 6.80 meters.

    Fellow senior Dustyn Salomon had success in the 400 meter and 800 meter races, as Humboldt State held the top four spots in the 400 meter. Salomon also won the 1500 meter with a time of 3:59.00, outrunning his teammate Adam Grimmitt by less than a second (3:59.66).

    “For the season opener, I’m faster than last year,” Salomon said. “But I think the adverse conditions today really affected my speed.”

    The Jacks travel to Chico State to compete at the Chico Distance Carnival and Twilight Invitational on April 6 and 7.

     

     

  • Lumberjacks of today meet Jacks of the past

    Lumberjacks of today meet Jacks of the past

    Humboldt State University’s track and field team will kick off their season Feb. 17 with the Green & Gold Open, otherwise known as Alumni Weekend.

    Both cross country and track & field will participate in this intrasquad scrimmage that is intended to prepare athletes for what is to come this season.

    A special effort has been made to make this weekend more than just an open. Alumni are being welcomed back to participate in events such as a 60-meter dash, 4×400 meter relay and a pace-predicted mile.

    “We have had a strong alumni base in the past,” head coach Sarah Ingram said. “So, we are trying to reconnect with those athletes now, and hopefully have them talk with our current athletes.”

    The open will begin with a recognition announcement for the attending alumni and the five All-American award winners that graduated last year. The throwing events begin at 9 a.m. and the running events begin at 12:30 p.m. accordingly.

    As part of the 2018 Alumni Weekend, activities off the track will be held around town as well. There will be a mingle mixer Friday night, an alumni-only bonfire Saturday evening after the meet and a breakfast at the Samoa Cookhouse Sunday morning.

    Freshman Malachi Arthur is ready to get back on the track after his missed season from a knee injury during his senior year of high school.

    “I’m pretty nervous,” Arthur said. “I haven’t ran a full competitive 400 (meter) in a long time, but I am also excited because I think I will do really well.”

    Initially, this intrasquad scrimmage is meant to warm up and prepare the athletes as much as possible before their multi-event meet in Chico on Feb. 22 and 23. The following weekend, the whole team will travel to Turlock to compete in the Kim Duyst Invite hosted by California State University, Stanislaus.

    Junior Brianna Simon is ready to achieve her goals this season after a redshirt year full of training and conditioning. Simon’s main event is the hammer throw, therefore she has been focusing on getting stronger with plenty of power lifting.

    “Last year was a building season,” Simon said. “It’s like I came out of retirement, and I am definitely ready to get back out there and beat my personal record.”

    Brianna Simon goes through technique during the Humboldt State track and field team practice on Feb. 12. Photo by Diego Linares.

    Ingram and her athletes are excited to kick off this 2018 season and hope to achieve record breaking goals as well as receive more All-American awards this year.

    “I am really excited that track season is almost here,” Ingram said. “When you actually get to compete on the track, it becomes a lot of fun. I think our athletes are really looking forward to that.”

  • Border Battle 2017 – “Chumboldt” Versus Oregon

    Border Battle 2017 – “Chumboldt” Versus Oregon

    By Andre Hascall

    Oregon and California clash at Humboldt State University. It is called the Border Battle due to the participating schools from Humboldt, Chico, Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech. Humboldt State and CSU Chico teamed up to represent California, Oregon was represented by Southern Oregon University and Oregon Technical Institute. Many of the top performers of the weekend were competing for Humboldt.

    Brendan Roderick, sophomore Kinesiology Major, finished in second place in the triple jump, gaining points for the California team. Roderick is originally from Springfield,Oregon, but he lived in southern california before coming up to Humboldt State. “Its one of my favorite meets because it’s california versus oregon,” Rodrick said. “So we got Chico and Humboldt, also known as Chumboldt, versus Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech.”

    Caitlyn McCoy, junior, runs the 100 and 400 meter hurdles. McCoy placed second in the 100 meter hurdle. McCoy mentioned that hard work all season built this team for success. “We have made huge progress I remember back in the first practice everyone was dying and out of shape,” McCoy said. “Now we can run our events and get first, second or third.”

    Roderick was amongst one part of the successful men’s team that featured plenty of runners and throwers who performed well. Corey Berner, a sprinter on Humboldt Men’s Track. Berner gave his fellow relay runners a strong finish to cement a win. He did this, of course as an anchor being the last runner in the relay. “It was back and forth we got the baton at the same time, and I could see him in the corner of my eye,” Berner said. “I’m pretty sure he took the lead for a moment but I told myself to relax and then I pulled forward, it was close, but we got it.”

     

  • Green and Gold Open Kicks Off Track Season

    Green and Gold Open Kicks Off Track Season

    By Keaundrey Clark

    Grace Hall, HSU sprinter, running her hardest on her second lap during the women’s 800 meter race on Saturday Feb. 18, 2017. | Juan Herrera

    Humboldt State’s track and field began the 2017 season with the annual Green and Gold Open Saturday at the Redwood Bowl.

    The intrasquad scrimmage, which hosts visitors from College of the Redwoods and local participants, gave the Lumberjacks an opportunity to tune up before the Kim Duyst Invitational in Turlock, Calif., on March 4.

    HSU’s Gold Teams won the event  versus the Green Teams. The Gold Women outscored the Green Women 45-35 and the Gold Men narrowly beat the Green Men 33-29. The top three finishers in each event were awarded points with first place earning 4 points, second place 2 points and third place 1 point.

    Highlights of the event included the return of decathlete Teigan Eilers. Eilers finished first in the long jump and javelin, second in the 400m dash and fourth in the discus. His 7.18m distance in the long jump was his personal best, while his 56.69m toss in the javelin is one of the top eight performances in program history. Eilers returned from an injury that cost him the 2016 season.

    After representing the Green and Gold at NCAA Outdoor Nationals last season, Alyssabeth DeJerez showed she was ready to return  this season with Saturday’s times. DeJerez earned first place finishes in the 200m dash (24.96) and the 800m (2:17.49),

    Tatiana Gillick and Dustyn Salomon were top finishers in the women’s and men’s 3200m races, respectively. Marissa McCay held the top spot in the javelin, 100m hurdles and high jump and second in the 200m dash and shot put.