The Trinidad State track teams split last week to attend two different meets over an action packed four days of competition in Azusa, California and Grand Junction, Colorado. Ahmed Sado toed the line first for the Trojans at Azusa Pacific University for the esteemed Bryan Clay Invitational; a meet almost entirely made up of Division I & II 4-year NCAA schools. Sado wasted no time in the 3,000m steeplechase as he quickly tucked in behind the leaders of the race. With 3 laps of the 7.5 lap race remaining Sado took the lead and dropped all challengers except one athlete who would sneak by Sado before the finish line. Sado's time of 8:53 regained him the top spot in the NJCAA in the event, is a Trinidad State record, the fastest time in the NJCAA since 2011, and the 6th fastest NJCAA performance ever.
Ethan Coyhis and Adrian Villarreal competed in the 800 meters on Thursday evening. Coyhis ran a savvy race amongst a congested and hectic heat to run just off his best time of the season in 1:53. Villarreal employed his usual tactics by following the leaders of the race until the last 300 meters where he attacked down the backstretch to push into a top spot and steal himself a new personal best of 1:56 in the event.
Ahmed Sado followed up his national leading steeplechase with a 5,000 meter national leading mark less than 24 hours later. Despite feeling some heavy legs in the middle of the race Sado came roaring from the back of the pack over the last 800 meters to run 14:08 and take the top spot in the NJCAA. This performance is also the 4th fastest time ever by an NJCAA athlete and a TSC school record.
Friday marked the final day of competition for the contingent at the Bryan Clay Invitational in California, but the first day of competition for those in Grand Junction. Sharon Jesang tried a new event in the 800 meters on the campus of Colorado Mesa University. She took the lead from the gun in the two-lap race and never relinquished it, despite a late challenge from an athlete from Western Colorado. Kianna Quintana was also feeling the adventurous itch as she took on arguably the hardest event in track and field in the 400 meter hurdles. Quintana's time is a new Trinidad State school record. Late into the night, the Trojans in California raced valiantly over the 1,500 meter distance. Sado was back for his third event in three days to race to a time that would be fastest in the NJCAA if Sado himself had not run faster earlier in the season. Conner Dosmann started his 1,500 meter race in usual fashion by going straight to the back of the field before slowly moving up over the course of the race. In a flurry of a finish Dosmann got over the line and past a host of athletes to finish in 3:56, a new personal best that moves him up to have the 13th fastest time during the outdoor season in this event. Villarreal competed a few races later due to the 523 entries in the event. Villarreal followed a quick early pace and then pushed to the front of the race with 300 meters remaining before finishing in 3:57 and improving his ranking in the NJCAA. Despite being mostly an 800 meter athlete for the last 4 years Ethan Coyhis stepped up to the 1500 meter distance and showed some true prowess for the distance. Coyhis ran conservatively the first 3 laps of the 3.75 lap race before launching an impressive last 300 meters. Coyhis finished in 3:58 and qualified himself to Nationals in another event.
On Saturday Jarred Baca and Reagan Longei both returned from hiatuses due to injury to compete in the 5,000 meters at Colorado Mesa. Baca had a strong showing in his return. Longei competed against a strong field to finish 7th and book his ticket to the National meet in the event. Ashley Lagat and Vanessa Dominguez competed in the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase. Dominguez faired well in her first attempt at the difficult event. Lagat executed very well throughout the race and improved her best time of the season and NJCAA ranking.
The Trojans will be back in action in Albuquerque April 21st.