Track gets ready for conference meet

In 18 years of coaching, last weekend was one of the most memorable for track coach Joe Neff.

“This was one of the best Hornet track and field events I’ve ever been associated with,” Neff said. “It was an absolutely outstanding meet.”

The Sac State track team competed at California-Nevada Championships last weekend in San Diego. There were many highlights for the Hornets – the biggest being the victory in the women’s mile relay, the last event of the meet.

The Hornets were in sixth place, about 60 meters behind the leader going into the final exchange. Africa Eldrige ran the anchor leg for the Hornets and crossed the finish line only a few hundredths of a second in front of Fresno State.

“It looked like an impossible deficit to overcome,” Neff said.

By overcoming the deficit, Eldrige led the mile relay team, composed of Joni David, Kari Tranzor and Mykesha Kirtman, to a new school record in the event, with a time of 3 minutes 43.94 seconds.

Another school record was set by sophomore sprinter Mike Kenyon in the 400 meters. His time of 46.83 seconds took second at the meet and was also a personal best. Kenyon remains the Big Sky Conference leader in the event.

The men’s sole victory came from Tony Galaviz in the 110-meter high hurdles with a time of 14.32 seconds. The time was not a personal best, but the victory was impressive considering he is coming off a hamstring injury.

Distance runners Missy Carter and Katie Fontana set lifetime bests in their events. Carter placed eighth in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4 minutes, 43.14 seconds – five seconds faster than her previous best. Fontana took 30 seconds off her lifetime best in the 5,000 meters, placing eighth with a time of 17 minutes, 48.09 seconds.

Decathlete Andy Kotko also set a personal best with his third place finish in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 52.31 seconds.

“Andy had an outstanding performance,” Neff said. “He had just competed in the decathlon on Wednesday and Thursday, then came to San Diego on Saturday and ran a lifetime best.”

Other highlights for the Hornets included Jimmithee Banks placing second in the long jump with a leap of 23 feet, one-half inch. Chris Uribe finished fifth in the javelin with a throw of 188 feet, one inch, despite a bad elbow. Before the injury, Uribe set a personal best in the javelin during the preliminary round with a throw of 195 feet.

“The Hornets did themselves proud at this meet,” Neff said. “They did so well that I gave everyone a day off.”

After the day off, the Hornets will return to preparing for the conference championship meet on May 19.

“We are definitely ready for the conference meet,” Neff said. “Everyone has moved up in the conference.”

The performances of Carter, Fontana and Kotko all qualified them for the conference championship meet. The next opportunity to qualify will be Saturday at the Sacramento Spring Festival at Hornet Field, the final home meet of the season.