M. Track & Field: Team competes against 4-year schools

File Photo: Falcons competed at the Cal State Long Beach Open
File Photo: Falcons competed at the Cal State Long Beach Open

Taking on predominantly four-year competition, the Cerritos College men's track and field team took part in the Cal State Long Beach Open on a rainy Saturday. For their efforts, the Falcons had five top 10 finishers, as well as winning one event, and also placed second and third in other events. This Saturday, the team will compete in the Occidental Distance Carnival Spring Break Classic at Occidental College.

Freshman Titus Houston (Narbonne HS) won the long jump with a leap of 7.14 meters, which was the best mark among the 42 participants, while in the 400 meters, Christian Shakir-Ricks (Murrieta Mesa HS) turned in the second fastest time of 48.93. He was edged by Curtis Threlkeld of Cal State Bakersfield, who crossed the finish line in 48.63. Freshman pole vaulter Brian Lanton (Bell Gardens HS) cleared 4.23 meters, which put him in third place among 11 that cleared the opening height.

In other field events, teammates Timothy Sloan (Central, VA HS/Mt. San Antonio College) and Destin Flucas (Cerritos HS) tied for eighth place in the high jump an 1.81 meters, with sophomore Jorge Gonzalez (Ventura HS) finishing in sixth place in the discus with his throw that traveled 46.01 meters. He also turned in a 15th place performance in the shot put at 13.24 meters, which was third among community college participants.

A day earlier, two duo of hammer throwers Emmanuel Hernandez (La Mirada HS) and Jonathan Vaoifi (Long Beach Millikan HS) represented Cerritos at the Cal State Los Angeles Invitational. Vaoifi finished in sixth place with a distance of 32.08 meters, while Hernandez checked in with a 15th place distance of 25.51 meters.