The Bakersfield College Invitational on March 17 at Memorial Stadium was an impressive meet for the Renegades track and field contingent.

Both the men and women’s squad fared well against their competition (Allan Hancock, Antelope Valley, Sequoias) despite dealing with surfaces hampered by the weather.

Because of the weather conditions, it was agreed upon by all coaches that the meet would not be scored.

For the men, in the 100-meter, Walter Hunt finished first with a time of 11.07 seconds, and Myren Moore took second with 11.13.

The 200 saw Moore take first (22.74), and Justin Evans placed second (23.04).

The 400 produced a 1-2-3 sweep, as Evans won it with 51.59, Triandous Hobson took second with 52.31, and Dashawn Meadows came in third 53.15.

In the 800, it was another sweep as John Purcell finished first with his season-best effort 2:01.48. Davis Loustalot second, and Misael Herrera third (2:13.28), with his season-best as well.

Chris Schwartz won the 1,500  and Keenan Colditz finished second.

In the 400 meter hurdles, only two competed (both from BC), and Shane O’Malley won it (1:01.66), and Salim Cleghorne came in second (1:10.15).

The BC team of Hobson, Loustalot, Meadows and Evans won the 1600 relay with a time of 3:30.93 minutes.

The high jump had Bevan Wemhoff finishing with a first place jump and he also finished third in the long jump.

Kyle Richmond took third in the triple jump.

Bert Flores won the shot put, the discus, and the hammer with a season best. David Madrid took third in the hammer.

On the women’s side, Sarena Underwood ran a seasonal best and finished second in the 100 (13.20), Sarah Hinostro placed third.

Underwood also finished second in the 100 hurdles, and first in the pole vault.

In the 200, Rachel Evans got third, and took second in the 400.

Elizabeth Sanchez has finished second in the 800 (2:25.09), and Danielle Tidahl took third (2:36.52).

The 1,500 had Natalie Fernandez winning it.

In the 3,000 steeplechase, Serraya Hermosilla ran her seasonal best and finished on top with 13.35 seconds.

In the 1600 relay, the team of Dial, Sanchez, Tidahl, Evans placed second.

Amanda Smith finished third in the shot put and third in the hammer. Amanda Mosby placed third in the discus, and she finished second in the hammer.

It was an overall productive day considering the circumstances, according to BC coach David Frickel.

“We streamlined the meet. We got rid of the 5,000, and we just tried to get through it as quickly as possible,” he said.

“The weather kind of hampered us out there, so it was just one of those days you were there, but you really didn’t want to be there.”

“Given the conditions, with the weather and such, everything being underwater, I think those are good efforts by those kids that day.”

On March 23 at Santa Barbara City College, BC competed in the Easter Relays against 10 other schools, and several of the athletes fared well.

For the men, Chris Schwartz was again the star, as he finished first in the 1,500 (3:55.64), and a season best effort and first place in the 5,000 (14:53.09).

In the 100-meter dash, Walter Hunt finished second with 10.95. The 4,000 distance medley team (Colditz/Cleghorne/Purcell/Langdeaux) also placed second with 10:48.74.

In the discus, Bert Flores took third (138’5”) with a season-best mark.

On the women’s side, Tejera Dial took first place in the triple jump with 37-8 in her best jump to date.

The 3200 meter relay team (Dial/Sanchez/Fernandez/Perez) placed third, and in the hammer throw, Breann Goodman also took third.

Frickel talked about some of the key performances of the day.

“[Chris] Schwartz narrowly missed the school record by just a couple tenths of a second in the 5,000, so that’s his first one of the year, so I’m sure he’s going to drop that at some point,” he said.

“Tejera Dial had a very good jump in the triple jump. That was her best.

“I think she’s in the top four in So Cal in the performance list in the triple jump.

“I think Breann Goodman had her second best throw in the hammer.”

“It was a good overall performance, the kids picked up some awards. We put some good people in different events that they normally don’t do.

“So I think the groups we put out there were very competitive.”

“The weather was kind of cool and overcast since it was right across the street from the beach. It was windy off and on throughout the course of the day cause you’re right across the street from the beach, so it was cool all day.

“So that normally doesn’t make for the most favorable of conditions when it’s cooler,” said Frickel.

The up-coming WSC inland Meet on March 30 will be the last scheduled meet held at Memorial Stadium in BC this season.