Bakersfield, Calif. – The standard stays the same: Mt. SAC wins.
The Mt. SAC Men's Track and Field Team delivered a powerful and well-rounded performance at the 3C2A SoCal Regional Championships on Saturday, May 9, claiming first place overall with 178.5 points.
The Mounties separated themselves from the field with a balanced attack across sprints, distance, jumps and throws, finishing ahead of Riverside City College in second (132 points) and San Diego Mesa College in third (107 points). From explosive track performances to dominant field event marks, Mt. SAC showed once again why they remain one of the premier programs in the state.
On the track, Marques Guzman set the tone with a blazing victory in the 200 meters, crossing the line in 20.95 to secure a regional title. In the middle distance and distance events, Alexander Plummer earned a strong fourth-place finish in the 800 meters in 1:54.39, while Diego Varela continued his consistency with a fourth-place finish in the 5000 meters (15:12.65) and a runner-up finish in the 10,000 meters (32:07.54).
Conner Sybrandy also added key points with a fourth-place performance in the steeplechase at 9:42.64. The Mounties closed out the running events with a second-place finish in the 4x400 relay, as Dylan Ochoa, Marques Guzman, Johnny Gardner IV, and Rashad Martin combined for a time of 3:11.58.
The field events were where Mt. SAC truly separated themself from the competition.
Taiyo Ishiguro soared to a first-place finish in the javelin with a throw of 185' 2", highlighting a standout day in the throws. In the discus, Toni Babatunde placed third with 153' 4", narrowly ahead of teammate Kase Schaffeld, who took fourth at 153' 2".
The jumps events were equally dominant, with Ja'Len Talor winning the high jump at 6' 8.75", while Anik Singh secured third at 6' 6.75". Caleb Garcia captured another regional title in the pole vault with a mark of 14' 9".
In the horizontal jumps, Myles Massie delivered one of the most impressive performances of the meet, winning both the long jump (24' 3") and triple jump (52' 2"), while Tyrus Murguia (23' 2.5" in the long jump) and Michael Danna (48' 5.5" in the triple jump) each added valuable fourth-place finishes. Grant Grunwald rounded out the scoring in the hammer throw, placing third with a mark of 159' 6".
NEXT UP:
Now, the Mounties turn their attention to the 3C2A State Championships at Hilmer Lodge Stadium, where they will compete on home soil beginning Friday, May 15. After finishing third at last year's state meet, this year's squad enters with unfinished business. Competing in front of a home crowd at one of the most iconic venues in track and field, Mt. SAC will look to climb even higher on the podium and chase a state championship.
With a deep roster, proven performers, and championship experience across the board, the Mounties head into state competition in position to make another major statement.
STAY CONNECTED:
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.