Stephen Scrafford of SBCC captured his second conference title in six days on Friday by winning the 5,000 meters in 15:18.04 in the WSC Track and Field Finals at Moorpark College. It was the ninth-fastest time in school history for Scrafford, who also won the 10,000 title six days earlier.
“Stephen definitely gets the athlete of the meet award by pulling down 20 points with over nine miles of racing in six days,” said coach Scott Fickerson.
Twelve other Vaqueros qualified for the Southern Cal Prelims on Saturday at Saddleback in Mission Viejo.
Ronald Dudley and Chase Lee went 1-2 in the javelin with Dudley recorded the sixth-best mark in SBCC history (180-0) and Lee notching the ninth best (169-0). “Our javelin men really rose to the occassion,” Fickerson said. “It was a very close field among the top six throwers and Ronnie and Chase stepped up big with PRs to blow it open.”
Other men’s qualifiers were Johan Lindqvist (5th, TJ, 45-4), Zach Pattison (6th, HJ, 6-3) and the 4×400 relay team of Freddie Maldonado, Donald Morgenson, Jeff Rosecrance and Pattison (6th, 3:22.39). Garrett Edwards (7th in the 10,000) and Matt Organista (9th) both advanced due to scratches.
“I’m especially proud of our men’s 4x400m relay team,” noted Fickerson. “They were only seeded 10th and had to run in a B heat, which they won by over a second. Running against the clock, they beat three teams seeded ahead from the fast heat to qualify for So Cals with a 3-second season-best time.”
The top six finishers from Friday’s WSC Finals moved on to the Southern Cal Prelims.
Erika Schaeffer took second in the 3000m Steeplechase and her 11:50.33 improves on her third-best time in school history. Emelie Lundin took sixth in the 800 (2:24.60) and Alexandra Thompson was eighth in the 15000 (5:06.92). Thompson advanced after two scratches.
“The distance women ran really well today with three personal bests,” Fickerson added.
