BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Roadrunner track and field teams will continue a busy spring season with the annual Pomona-Pitzer Invitational this weekend. CSU Bakersfield's men and women will tackle the meet in Claremont, Calif. in an all-day competition on Saturday, Apr. 8.
“The team is looking to build on the success we have had so far in preparation for the WAC meet next month,” said Marcia Mansur-Wentworth, Director of Track and Field at CSUB. “The men are led by a strong group that includes many WAC leaders in their events. The women will be led by a mix of freshmen and veterans.”
On the men's side, Tim Van Horn and Joselito Flores are co-leaders in the high jump in the Western Athletic Conference and are battling to be the first 'Runner to jump seven feet since David Larsen did it in 1999. Senior Justin McKinley will join his teammates in the high jump while also tackling the long jump with Flores. The trio has a combined total of five All-WAC honors in these two events.
Freshman Curt Threlkeld, who leads the WAC 800m list to date, will compete in the 400m and 800m races this weekend. Fellow freshman Nick Zandes leads the WAC decathlon depth chart and will compete in four events at Pomona-Pitzer: pole vault, 110m hurdles, long jump, and 400m.
Redshirt sophomore Gabe Gaeta currently sits third in the WAC 400m hurdles and will compete in that event in Southern California. Third in the WAC in hammer throw this year is redshirt senior Emmett Wirtz who will take on the hammer, shot put, and discus.
An All-WAC performer last year, Alec Benavides is currently fourth in the conference in the javelin this year. Benavides will also join teammate Tristan Watson in the 110m hurdles while the latter will tackle the 200m dash as well.
For the 'Runner women, freshman Julianne Finch will continue an outstanding season in Claremont. The native of Bakersfield broke the 15-year-old CSUB record in the pole vault two weeks ago and is the current WAC leader in the event.
Redshirt senior Marina Emhoff is a three-time All-WAC performer in the 400m race and will run the event on Saturday. Freshman Falon Wilson will lead a strong group of 'Runner sprinters this weekend, tackling the 100m dash and 100m hurdles. Another freshman, Mariah LeSure, is fresh off of a pair of personal bests and will run in the 100m and 200m dashes.
Junior Susannah Vera is set to take on the high jump, an event where she was seventh at the Indoor WAC Championships this year. Freshman Paradise Pelzer and senior Tori Blackmon are expected to round out CSUB's top performers this weekend as the pair will tackle the 3000m steeplechase.
Saturday's Pomona-Pitzer Invitational is an all-day meet. For more information on the Invite including meet schedule, meet history, and links to live stats and results, visit the event page at Sagehens.com. A full recap and results will be posted here at GoRunners.com after the competition.
~GoRunners.com~
