Health and fitness.
Those are the keys to success for the SBCC track and field teams, according to Scott Fickerson.
“We need to keep everyone healthy and train hard on a daily basis,” said the Vaqueros’ second-year head coach. “Our goal is to improve on last year’s performance as a team and qualify more athletes for the So Cal Prelims and Finals.”
The Vaqueros will compete in the WSC Relays on Friday at Ventura and will host the Easter Relays on March 26.
The men placed eighth in the WSC Finals last year. Top returners in the field events are football players Osvaldo Castorena (shot put, 14.17m; discus, 34.37m) and Aeryus Holloway (triple jump, 13.51m), along with long jumper John Worthge (6.63m). Donald Morgenson is back in the 800 meters (2:00.55) and sprinters Alex Cuevas and Nick Scolari are returning from injuries.
Women’s returners include Carino Celio (TJ, 10.44m) and Sarah Gustavsson (5,000, 20:13.50).
The men’s newcomer list features a strong crew of jumpers in Alex Bush, Tanner Kight and Johan Lindqvist of Sweden. Lindqvist took second in the triple jump (13.99m) and third in the long jump (6.29m) in the season-opening Pomona Pitzer All-Comers Meet. Stephen Scrafford (Cooperstown, N.Y.) took third in the 3,000 at Pomona. Steven Lozier and Freddy Maldonado will help in the sprints while Chase Lee and Michael Morgan are expected to have an immediate impact in the throwing events.
On the women’s side, new faces include sprinters Tina Berglund and Linnea Hjelmtrop (Sweden), distance runners Erika Schaeffer and Samantha Dougherty and high jumper Paige Turner.
There are 10 athletes from local high schools on the two rosters, including seven from Carpinteria.
