VC Women Tie for 1st at WSC-Coast Track Meet

The Ventura College women's track and field team had an amazing day Friday, earning 151 points to claim a first place tie with host Cuesta at the Western State Conference Coast meet in San Luis Obispo. Stina Johansson was a triple winner on the day while Charlotte Allison claimed two golds. Aubrianna Smith, Ariana Vera and Citilali Cortez also produced first place finishes. Danilo Juarez recorded the Pirate men's lone gold medal on the day.

Johansson (Sweden) cruised to a victory in the 1500m, running 4:55.87 which is No. 1 in the WSC and No. 4 in Southern California. She made her 800m debut, winning in a time of 2:23.50, which is second-best this year in the WSC, third in SoCal and No. 10 all-time at VC. She then won the 3000m, an event in which she was already ranked No. 1 in th econference and region, in a time of 10:30.32.

Allison (La Reina) was a double winner Friday, striking gold in the high jump (5'3") and the triple jump (33' 9.25"). She also claimed silver in the long jump.

Vera (Rio Mesa) won the 200m with a lifetime best time of 25.09, a mark which rankes her No. 1 in the WSC, No. 3 in SoCal and No. 4 in the state. She also crossed the finish line second in the 400m.

Smith (Foothill Tech) won the 100m in 12.37, remaining in the top spot this season in the conference, No. 5 in the region and No. 7 in the state. She also ran a season-best in the 200m to place fourth.

Citilali Cortez broke the tape first in the 400m hurdles running a season-best 1:11.47 which puts her second in the WSC and 11th in SoCal in 2022. She also claimed the bronze medal finish in the 100m hurdles.

The women's 4x100  team of Smith, Vera, Cortez and Cassandra O'Reilly (Rio Mesa) improved their season's best time to 48.68, which moves them to No. 4 in the CCCAA, No. 3 in SoCal, and still No. 1 in WSC. Their time is also third-best in VC history.

O'Reilly was second in the 100m hurdles running a lifetime best of 15.88, currently third in the WSC, ninth in SoCal and 11th all-time at VC. She also finished runner-up in the shot put and fourth in the javelin.

Anissa Cason (Pacifica) was sixth in the 400m while Alexandra Sanchez (Rio Mesa) ran sixth in the 800m. 

Michelle Sanchez (Oxnard) claimed fourth place in the hammer.

With the meet on the line the 4x400 relay team of Cason, Nicole Rivera Cortez (Channel Islands), Cortez and Vera came in second to seal the tie for first in the meet. Cason, Rivera-Cortez, Cortez, Vera. Their mark is good for third this season in the WSC.

Juarez was the lone male winner, throwing a lifetime best of 127'9" in the javelin, which currently ranks him No. 9 in the conference.

The 4x100m relay team of  Angel Gomez (Buena), Ethan Figlio (Rio Mesa), Isaiah Martinez Spence (Oxnard) and Julian Gibson (Pacifica) ran a season's best of 42.95 to finish fourth in the meet.

Martinez Spence also ran fifth in the 400m while Gibson was sixth in the 100m.

Christian Alejandre (Pacifica) was runner-up in the discus with a throw of 120'4" moving him to No. 7 in the WSC. He was also fourth in the hammer. Mathew Cortez (Oxnard), meanwhile, claimed fifth in the shot put and sixth in the hammer.

Alex Canales (Fresno) ran fourth in the 1500m in a time of 4:07.92 and was also fourth int the 800m. 

Josh Weinerth (Rio Mesa) and Ramiro Mateos finished third and sixth, respectively, in the 3000m run.

In the final race of the day, VC's 4x400m relay team of Figlio, Gomez, Gibson, Martinez Spence also came in fourth.

The Pirates will have some competitors in the SoCal heptathlon/decathlon championships on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 5 and 6 while the rest of the team will next compete at the Mt. SAC Relays on Saturday April 9.