By Jonathan Aviles
Cal Poly was honored with two All-American athletes after
sending eight members of the track and field team to the NCAA
Division II Track and Field Championships in San Angelo, Texas.
Junior sprinter Jonathan Williams and senior distance runner
Tiffany Turner were named Cal Poly’s only All-Americans in the
sport, a year after senior long jumper Jasmine Winn was the lone
honoree.
Williams finished seventh in the 100-meter run at Angelo State,
where nationals were held. Williams ran 10.48 seconds.
The sprinter who placed first in the 100-meter ran the event in
10.24 seconds.
In the preliminary round, Williams ran a 10.43 to advance to the
finals.
Turner finished eighth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a
time of 11:00.55.
“She’s a hard worker, she deserves the All-American,” said Head
Coach Troy Johnson.
“She came out here to do a good job and she did. We’re so proud
of her, especially with the leadership she’s shown.”
Junior decathlete Michael Hernandez finished 13th with score of
6,515.
The first place decathlete received 7,531 total points.
In competing as a decathlete, Hernandez took part in five events
Thursday and five more Friday.
Those events consist of the 100-meter run, long jump, shot put,
high jump, 400-meter, 110-meter hurdles, discuss, pole vault,
javelin and finally the 1,500 meter run.
The five other Broncos participating in the nationals didn’t
fare as well.
The 4 x 400 men’s relay team of senior Joaquin Ortiz, junior
Brendan Thaler, sophomore Carter Griffin and senior Brian Roser did
not advance to the final round with a time of 3:15.21.
Roser, participating in an individual event as well as the
relay, didn’t advance in the 400-meter hurdles at 53.74.
Tokie Adeniji, with a time of 55.56 seconds in the 400-meter
sprint, also did not advance to the final round.
Overall, Cal Poly fared better than it has in years at
nationals.
“We did alright. For the relay, it was a learning experience,”
said Johnson. “In years to come we’ll be better. We brought home
two all-Americans ” I wanted eight, but overall a successful
trip.”
With the team’s season officially over and seven seniors
graduating, Johnson looks to prepare his team for next year and
improve.
“We’re going to rebuild,” said Johnson. “[The team is] going to
lose some leadership and we’re going to try and bring in some
character people. We have a big class coming next year to help us
improve.”
Reach Jonathan Aviles at sports@thepolypost.com
Tom Zasadzinski
Broncos send eight to Texas
Azusa Pacific
Broncos send eight to Texas
Tom Zasadzinski
Broncos send eight to Texas
Tom Zasadzinski
Broncos send eight to Texas
