COLLEGE ROUNDUP

TRACK AND FIELD

Orange Empire Conference

Championships

COSTA MESA — Led by the standout performance of freshman Crystal Reed, the Orange Coast College women’s track and field team pulled out the Orange Empire Conference title on Friday at OCC.

The Pirates used its team depth to post 287.5 points, edging Riverside with 279.

Reed, who won the 10,000 meters the previous week, made the most of her busy afternoon with wins in the 800 (2 minutes, 16.37 seconds), 1,500 (4:50.78) and 5,000 (18:54.08).

Sophomore Brenda Finney continued her stellar season with OEC titles in the 100 hurdles (15.79) and the 400 hurdles (1:03.40), joining Reed as a multiple winner for the Pirates. Finney also placed second in the heptathlon with a score of 4,317 points.

One of the more dominating performances by the Pirates team came in the 800, where OCC finished 1-2-3-4-6-7. Following behind Reed was Cassie Mitchell (2:16.78), Tiffany Hannah (2:21.96), Rachel Ronquillo (2:22.6), Tracy Bjelland (2:26.32) and Jillian Lopez (2:26.81).

Other top-three performances for the Pirates included Lopez in the 1,500 (second, 4:56.16), Cassie Mitchell in the 5,000 (second, 19:00.25), Brianna Vanderwal in the 400 hurdles (second, 1:05.2) and javelin throw (35.42 meters) and Tamara Beardsley in the discus (second, 36.08 meters),

On the men’s side, the Pirates finished second overall with 151 points, behind conference champ Riverside (347 points).

OCC’s Ardres Rossini took home the discus title with a winning throw of 52.51 meters.

Other top-three performances for the Pirates included Morgan Rose in the 400 (third, 49.7), the 400 relay (third, 43.13), 1,600 relay (third, 3:19.67), Scott Ruud in the hammer throw (third, 43.20 meters), Stephen Ruby in the javelin (second, 53.03 meters).

The Southern California Regionals will be May 3 and 10 at Bakersfield College.