Cuesta Men's and Women's Track & Field split their squad to attend two events last weekend. Most of the athletes stayed close to home and attended the Henry Kirk Invitational at Allan Hancock in nearby Santa Maria, but the Cougars shipped their Harriers to Occidental College in Los Angeles for the Oxy Distance Carnival on Saturday. The women won the title in Santa Maria, while the men were just a few spots back with the Team Bronze. The Oxy Distance Carnival was a non-scoring event.
The women's performance at the Henry Kirk Invitational bordered on the historic as the Cougars claimed the meet title. Freshman Gwyndolyn Katics posted a runner-up finish in the 100-meters (:12.73) and an event title in the 400-meters (:58.19). Both times earned her a spot on the Cougars' All Time Top 10. She currently ranks 7th all time at Cuesta in the 100-meters, 3rd in the 200-meters (:25.78) and 4th in the 200-meters. She is the only athlete on all three lists. Katics later joined fellow Sprinter Kiana Marie Lambert and Hurdlers Samantha Duran and Mia Martin to take second in the 4x400 relay (4:34.13). Duran later edged Martin to win the 100-hurdles, :17.79 to :17.98, while Martin earned another Silver in the High Jump (4-11). Fellow Leaper Kristy Huynh and Thrower Jaide Tappan also picked up event titles, while scoring in multiple events. Huynh won the Triple Jump (34-3.5), took second in the Long Jump (16-4.5) and a Bronze in the 100-meters (:13.56), before landed in 4th for the Javelin. Tappen won both the Shot Put (35-7.25) and Discus (108-2).
The men only had one Top 10 finish in Los Angeles, but it was a starring performance by Harrier Weston Greenelsh. Greenelsh cleared the 5,000-meter run in just 14:32.67, which ranks less than three seconds behind former Cuesta Coach and Cuesta College Male Athlete of the Year Connor Fisher's ten-year old school record (14:29.81). Meanwhile in Santa Maria, Freshman Benjamin Schneider had a big day with two event titles to lead the Cougars to 3rd place. Schneider won both the 400-meters (:51.80) and the High Jump (6-0.75). The men also got an event title out of fellow Leaper William Dawes, who cleared 23-1.75 in the Long Jump. Freshman Alexander Oldham also totaled up some points in multiple events. He took a Silver in the 110-hurdles (:16.32) and Bronze in the High Jump (5-10.75), right behind Schneider, before finishing 4th in the 200-meters (:23.05).
Cuesta Men's and Women's Track and field shall take next week off from competition and then attend back-to-back meets on March 21-22. The Cougars travel to Ventura for the Western State Conference Coast Meet on Friday, before joining Cal Poly's Conover Classic on Saturday.
