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Men's Track & Field Loaded with Talent, Depth and Versatility for WSC Prelims

Men's Track & Field Loaded with Talent, Depth and Versatility for WSC Prelims
Posted: Apr 17, 2023

Men's Track & Field travels to the 2023 Western State Conference Preliminary Meet this Friday at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster.  The men's squad of 17 athletes is nearly three times as large at the Cougars' women's team and is primed to rack up the team points.  Third-year Sprinter Connor Prichard and Freshman Harrier Anthony Erikson will lead Cuesta on track, while Pole Vaulter Dean Dodge, Thrower Jackson Reilly, and the versatile Joseph Tugwell (pict) lead the "Field" squad. 

Sprinter Connor Prichard is the only member of the program who has attained an all-time Cuesta Top 10 mark.  He ranks 4th all time in the 100m (:10.85) and 6th in the 200m (:21.89).  He shall run both races this week, while also handling the third leg of Cuesta's 4x100 and 4x400 relays.  Freshmen Jason Dixon will join Prichard in the 100m, and Freshman Zach Holland will join them both for the 200m, while taking on the 400m by himself.  In the relays Prichard will be joined by Holland, Freshmen Phoenix Popp and Leaper Dylan Ervin for the 4x100, while either Hurdler Gal Rivlin or Tugwell shall replace Ervin and anchor the 4x400.  In the hurdles, Popp joins Tugwell for the 110 hurdles and pairs with title contender Rivlin in the 400-hurdles.  

In the distance events, Erikson is joined by most of last Fall's cross-country team, which should provide the Cougars with a solid pack.  2021 Team MVP Jordan Reilly and Freshman Jorge Merced join Erikson for the 800, 1,500 and 5K.  Freshmen Deegan Miller, Nic Moore and All-WSC Steepler Axel Reich will also join for the shorter distances before trading the 5K for the Steeplechase.  

In the jumps, Freshman Leaper Dylan Ervin will handle the Long Jump and joins Phoenix Popp in the Triple Jump.  Tugwell is set to go solo in the High Jump, before joining Freshman Viktor Mejia and title contenders Dodge and Kevin Sweeney in the Pole Vault.  

Tugwell, who was forced by an injury to skip the SoCal Regional Multi Event Qualifier, joins Freshman Jackson Reilly in the Throws.  Tugwell is set to do the Javelin, while Reilly takes on the Discus, Hammer and chases a title in the Shot Put.  The Cougars have boasted, at least, one Thrower at nine of the last ten State Championships.