Two Qualify for Nationals at Mesa Invitational
Mesa, Ariz. - The outdoor portion of the 2021 track and field season got underway for the T-Birds with their second home meet of the season at John D. Riggs Stadium on Saturday. MCC produced two qualifiers for the NJCAA Division I Outdoor Championships.
Sophomore Ellis Collins qualified in the 5000-meter run with an 18:45.42 clocking and a second-place finish. Freshman Desmond Lott qualified in the discus throw with a mark of 46.46 meters and placed first in the event. This is the first time that both athletes have hit a qualifying mark for nationals in their respective careers.
Other top finishers on the men's side include Caden Resendez (15:38.82) placing third in the 5000; Andrew McCumber (4:05.86) and Geoffrey Grossthal (4:07.95) placing first and third the 1500-meter run; along with Noah Miller (43.49 m) being runner-up to Lott in the discus throw and winning the shot-put throw (14.45 m).
For the women, Ciara Bardwell-Jones placed second in the 200-meter dash (25.95) and won the 400-meter dash (1:00.32). Julianna Perez placed third in the discus throw (38.19 m) and second in the shot-put throw (11.83 m). Sisters Kassidy (36.51 m) and Kaprice Faraci (31.78 m) went 1-2 in the javelin throw as well.
Next up for the T-Birds is the Pima Outdoor Meet on March 13th at Pima Community College in Tucson, Ariz.