Track and field opens with six qualifiers at Paradise Valley Invitational
PARADISE VALLEY, AZ - The Mesa track and field teams began their 2015 indoor season Saturday with six athletes qualifying for NJCAA nationals and another quite likely to join the field.
Competeing at the Paradise Valley Invitational, MCC had two female athlete meet the standard. Beatriz Martinez in the 1,000 meters ran a time of 3:05.71 and won the event. Dana Brady jumped 10-0 in the pole vault to earn a trip.
The Mesa men had four athletes qualify, three in the pole vault. Austin McCrum and Leonard Bellgardt each cleared 15-9 and Treston Slater came in at 14-3 1/4 to all guarantee themselves spots at nationals.
Also joining the group was Jose Retana who won the 1,000 in 2:38.55.
In addition, D'Angelo Foster posted a score of 4235 in the pentathlon. There are no auatomatic qualifiers in that event, the top 16 at the end of the season move on. Foster's total would have been in the top eight at last year's nationals.
The indoor championships will be held March 6-7 in Albuquerque, N.M.