Broncbusters wrap up successful weekend at Region Championships
Pittsburg, KS-The Broncbuster track teams competed at the Region VI Championships at Pittsburg State over the weekend.
Women's recap
Day one
Meagan Burkhart opened up competition for the Broncbusters as she competed in the pentathlon. She had PRs in the 60m hurdles (13.37), High Jump (1.15 meters), Long Jump (3.92m), and the 800 meter (2:54.89). She ended up 15th place the event with a personal best score of 1589.
McKenna Jagels placed 7th in the pole vault, clearing a mark of 2.70 meters. Meantime, the Women's Distance Medley Relay (consisted of Shareen Cheruiyot, McKenna Jagels, Cielo Garcia, Jania Don Juan) placed 6th with a time of 14:28.99. Diondra Wilborn, who recently signed with Wichita State, placed 3rd in the 60m hurdles prelims, clocking in a time of 8.81. Her performance got her into the finals on Sunday. Wilborn also came back and placed 11th in the 200 meter dash, running a time of 25.82.
Elsewhere, Erica Davis and Areli Moreno both put up personal best times in the 60 meter dash, running 8.00 and 9.11 respectively, while Valentine Lagat finished up the night for the Broncbusters with a 3rd place finish in the 5000 meters with a time of 18:57.08. Her performance set a new school record as well as earned her a trip to NJCAA Indoor Championships in March.
Day Two
Valentine Lagat return to action with another outstanding performance in the 3000 meter run, taking 3rd with a time of 10:51.75, setting a new personal record and qualifying for nationals in the event. Teammate Taylor Thorp ran a personal best time in the 3k, running 14:13.24.
Diondra Wilborn placed 3rd in the 60 meter hurdle finals, clocking in a time of 8.88. Her teammate Shareen Cheruiyot ran a gutsy race in the Mile, running a time of 5:22.47 for 3rd place.
The Women's 4x400 meter relay (Diondra Wilborn, Erica Davis, Shareen Cheruiyot, and McKenna Jagels) ran a season best performance, clocking in a time of 4:13.15. The 4x800 meter relay (Shareen Cheruiyot, Cielo Garcia, Andrea Serrano, and Rebecca Potts) placed 8th with a time of 11:56.20.
Areli Moreno and McKenna Jagels tied for 11th in the High Jump, both clearing 1.35 meters. This performance was a personal best for Areli. Meagan Burkhart ran a personal best in the 400 meter, running a time of 1:07.51, Andrea Serrano clocks in a 2:56.05, earning a new personal best.
Women's Team placed 8th in the Region and 5th in the KJCCC West Conference.
Men's Recap
Day one
The Men's multi group started the day off for the Broncbusters, competing in the heptathlon. Debonaire Williams paced the squad with 2538 points as well as earning a personal best in the 60m dash (7.23). Cameron Collins was close behind with a day one score of 2471 and a Personal best in the 60m dash as well (7.55). Eli Handsaker made his debut in the event, earning new personal best in the 60m (7.97), Long Jump (4.59m), Shot Put (7.31m), and High Jump (1.63m).
Fabian Nava was top finisher for Garden City in the Long Jump, placing 8th with a mark of 6.76 meters. Teammate Darren Sanders earned a personal best with a mark of 5.90 meters.
The Men's Distance Medley Relay (consisted of Jose "Froy" Ruiz, Amari Hampton, Isaiah Armstrong, Dennis Mutai) placed 5th with a time of 10:40.48.
Jockque Randell ran a personal best time of 9.21 in the 60m hurdles, Jereun Wagner (6.92), Fabian Nava (7.19), and Ray'Sean Thomas (7.14) all ran personal best times in the 60 meter dash, and Thomas also came back and set a personal best in the 200 meter dash, running a time of 22.90.
To close out the night, Kelvin Cheruiyot set the pace for the Broncbusters in the 5k, clocking in a time of 15:07.73 for 9th place. His time set a new school record and qualified him for nationals. Teammates Ricardo Mijares and Johnny Lozano both ran personal best times, clocking in 16:48.07 and 17:33.90, respectively.
Day Two
The men's Heptathlon earned more recognition with Debonaire Williams ending the day with a 4th place with a score of 4403 points. Cameron Collins finished up in 9th with a personal best score of 3985, also setting new personal best in track he 60-meter hurdles (9.63) and 1k (3:09.65). Eli Handsaker completed his first multi, scoring 3157 points and placing 16th.
Dennis Mutai was electric in the mile, clocking in a 4:19.55. His performance was good enough for 3rd place as well as qualifying for nationals in the event. Teammates Jose "Froy" Ruiz and Garrett Klinger ran personal best, running 4:44.01 and 4:47.71.
Dennis Mutai broke his own school record in the 3k, running a time of 8:28.78. This performance was good enough for 7th place. Teammate Kelvin Cheruiyot came in 10th with a time of 8:39.34,setting a new personal best and qualifying nationals in the event.
The Men's 4x800 meter relay (Etienne James, Jose Garcia, Edgar Ruiz, and Cyle Peterson) placed 8th with a time of 9:11.24.
Elsewhere, Amari Hampton and Isaiah Armstrong both set personal best in the high jump. Hampton placed 9th with a mark of 1.85 meters and Armstrong cleared a mark of 1.75 meters. Hampton then placed 10th in the Triple Jump with a personal best mark of 13.48 meters. Teammate Darren Sanders earned a personal mark of 13.22 meters.
Armstrong set a new personal best in the 600 meter dash, clocking in a time of 1:23.25. Ray'Sean Thomas and Jaden Powell both ran personal best times in the 400 meter dash, clocking in 50.72 and 51.10 respectively.
Daniel Aguilar and Jose Garcia both ran personal best times in the 800 meter run, running 2:09.96 and 2:17.30 respectively.
Froy Ruiz and Matt Veloz both ran personal best times in the 1000meter run, clocking in times of 2:41.72 and 2:45.08, and the 4x400 meter relay (Amari Hampton, Isaiah Armstrong, Jereun Wagner, Jaden Powell) placed 10th with a time of 3:26.04.
As a team, Garden City placed 11th in the Region and 6th within the KJCCC West Conference.