Cuesta Women's Track & Field took first place at the 2022 Western State Conference North Meet in Bakersfield last Friday.  The women won only three individual events, but their 156 total points outpaced Runner-up Ventura by 19 points.  Pole Vaulter Elen Zhu (pict), Thrower Natalia Delgado and Middle-Distance Runner Jessi Schroeder (pict) each won events for the Cougars.  Zhu cleared 10-6 to win the Pole Vault, Delgado took the Hammer with a toss of 123-3, and Schroeder cleared 800-meters in just 2:28.25.   The Cougars also received three 2nd place finishes from Thrower Makaylie Howell and a pair from Distance Runner Dulce Esquivel.  Howell finished 2nd in the Javelin (98-1), Discus (118-11) and Shot Put (36-10.25), while Esquivel was the second Harrier to cross the line in both the 1,500 (5:01.88) and 3,000-meter (11:02.30) runs.  Freshman Leaper Hannah Quimby took 2nd in the Pole Vault (9-0.25), behind Zhu. and 3rd in the High Jump (4-11.75), behind teammate and Runner-up Eva Kessler (4-11.75).

Cuesta Track & Field travels to Santa Rosa this Thursday and Friday for the Wildcat Cup.  The event is hosted every year by a school coached by a former Chico State Wildcat, like Cuesta Coach Brian Locher.  The host Bear Cubs Coach David Wellman competed for Chico State.