LOS ANGELES — The Pomona-Pitzer Men's and Women's Track and Field teams combined to defeat Occidental College 140-129 in the Battle for the Banner meet against the Tigers.
The men's team defeated the Tigers 90-45 and the women's team fell 84-50. The Sagehens are now 4-3 against Occidental in the annual meet.
Women's Recap
Abby Gardner ran away in the 3000 meter, taking first with a time of 11:12.44. Gardner fell early on in the race but recovered and worked her way back into the lead.
The Sagehens went 1-2 in the triple jump with Prisca Diala winning with a distance of 10.53 meters. Gianna Wu took second with a distance of 10.10 meters.
Pomona-Pitzer won the distance medley Helen Guo, Katrina Dank, Sabrina Wilk, and Gardner combining for a time of 13:01.82. Their mark ranks as the tenth fastest time in Sagehen history.
The Sagehens took the top three spots in the long jump with Kaile Sauro winning with a distance 4.89 meters, Amy Watt taking second with a jump of 4.87 meters, and Diala finishing third at 4.79 meters.
Kayla Paraiso took second in the 400 meters with a time of 1:09.35.
Freshman Sophie Richards took second in the 100 meter hurdles at 15.89 and second in the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 46.85.
Kaile Sauro finished second in the high jump with a final height of 1.45 meters. Katherine Pelz took second in the discus at 32.66 meters. In the hammer throw, senior Cybele Kappos took second with a throw of 35.23 meters, and freshman Katherine Pelz took third at 35.16 meters.
Jessica Finn took second in the javelin with a throw of 34.42 meters.
From the Coach: "This was a terrific start to our season," said Women's Head Coach Kirk Reynolds. "We had a number of very impressive early-season performances, but this meet also showed us that we still have a ways to go to get ready for the SCIAC season. I was impressed with our hurdlers — Sophie, Lia, Katrina, and Kaile — and our long jumpers were working on some good things today. Also, our throwers also showed that they will be an important part of the overall team this entire season."
Men's Recap
The Sagehens took the top three spots in the 3000 meter. Andy Reischling won with a time of 8:43.77, Carter Stripp took second (8;60.09), and Charlie Watson finished third (8:51.16).
In the 110 meter hurdles, the Sagehens went 1-2 with Christopher Neikirk taking first (15.11) and Carter Johnson taking second (21.36). Neikirk also won the 300 meter hurdles (39.41), with Shayan Lavasani taking second (43.87) and Johnson placing third (48.27). Neikirk scored another win in the high jump, with a final height of 1.93 meters.
Pomona-Pizer won the 4x400 meter relay with the team of Neikirk, Faraaz Rashidi, Lavasani, and Paul Messana finishing with a time of 3:24.89.
The Sagehens also won the 4x1600 meters with Watson, Nathan Stringham, Nick Vucovich, and Parker Head taking first with a time of 18:17.35.
In the distance medley, Messana, Nicholas Borowsky, Vucovich, and Reischling took first with a time of 10:20.80.
Ethan Hardacre won the long jump with a distance of 6.95 meters. Hardacre led the Sagehens to a 1-2-3 finish in the triple jump, winning with a jump of 13.22 meters. Lucas White Moon took second (12.68 meters) and Neel Karody finished third (12.30 meters).
In the shot put, Reggie Reed won the event with a throw of 12.71 meters, Errol Francis took second at 9.11 meters, and Ryan Abele finished third at 8.96 meters.
Reed won the discus with a throw of 36.60 meters and Abele took third at 26.27 meters. Reed made it three wins, winning the hammer throw at 31.20 meters.
Calvin Aylward won the javelin with a throw of 60.49 meters.
Next Meet: The Men's and Women's Track and Field teams compete next Saturday, February 18 when the host the Collegiate All Comers meet at 10:30 a.m.
