Track takes second at SCIAC finals

by Jonathan Corral
Assistant Editor

In a strong performance at the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference track and field championships, the University of La Verne men’s and women’s track teams put together a total team effort but came up short as they ran into a pumped up Claremont team that swept both the men’s and women’s team titles, Monday afternoon at Occidental College in Los Angeles.

Both La Verne squads finished second with 117 and 182 points, respectively. Not to be out done, both squads combined for 11 individual conference titles and numerous athletes earned provisional marks for national competition, which take place May 27-29 in Decatur, Ill

“I was really pleased with both teams,” head coach Pat Widolff said. “Both of our teams took second and that is a good sign because we have a lot of people coming back next season.”

Lakia Sims stole the show for the Leopards, scoring a resounding 36 individual points by winning three individual events and the 4x100-meter relay.

Sims placed first in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.11, which was a personal best, she won the long jump with a mark of 18’6” which ranks fourth in the nation and the triple jump for the second-straight year with a jump of 37’4”. Her personal best in the triple jump of 38-4 is currently the seventh best triple jump in the nation. Her marks in both the long jump and triple jump earned her a spot in the national meet.

For her recent accomplishments, Sims was honored with being the SCIAC Female Athlete of the Week for the week ending April 18.

“I am really blessed to have those results,” Sims said. “The morning of the championships I woke up sick and I was even sick on the bus. But I have really been looking forward to the SCIAC meet and when I got there I was pumped up and ready to go.”

“I think everyone gave a 110 percent and I am so proud of the entire team,” she said.

Other winners on the women’s side included the 4x100 meter relay team consisting of, Sims, Deonne McLean, Erica Holmes and Eje Ash. Their time off 48.90 is a conference best and a NCAA qualifying time.

Christy DeLapp won her second-consecutive high jump title by leaping 5’2”. Amy Smith won the javelin with a toss of 124’2”. Lori Waters won the shot put (45”8’) and Ellen Soakai won the discus (134’5”). Waters and Soakai both beat their competition by more than four feet and have already earned provisional marks for nationals.

“As a complete team, both men’s and women’s, we didn’t finish where we would have liked,” Gerlaine Kiamco said. “But everyone gave their all and with a lot of people coming back we have so much potential and we will keep pushing to be better.”

On the men’s side, Roger Logan placed first in the 100-meter dash with a blazing 10.97 just out leaning the second place finisher.

James Chambless just missed qualifying for nationals in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.97. The provisional qualifying time for nationals is 14.90.

The men’s 4x100-meter relay team of Logan, Demetric Brown, Eric Thomas and Chambless added another victory to the Leopard total by clocking 42.60 to win the event.

A few school records were also broken in the distance events.

Frank Huerta broke the school record in the 5,000 meters by less than a second with his time of 15:51.84. The previous record was held by Cecilio Barrera with a time of 15:52.57.

Barrera also broke his own school record in the 1500 meters by crossing the finish line in 4:01.41. His previous record stood at 4:02.77.