There were plenty of highlights at the third Western State Conference mini-meet on Friday at Griffin Stadium in Moorpark, where the Raiders and Pirates rose to the occasion by turning in some of their best performances of the season.
Tai Battle, of the Moorpark College women’s team, had anotheramazing performance for the women’s hammer event with a distance of 180 feet and 3 inches, taking first place. That mark was over 8 feet further than the best mark made in the men’s hammer event, which was also taken by Moorpark.
Battle also took prime honors in the discus and shotput events.Traycie Kephart, Moorpark’s women’s track and field coach, was impressed with the team’s results.
“I think everyone had solid performances,” said Kephart.
Among the other events, Moorpark’s Essence Porter had the best time in the 400-meter race, while the lady Raiders also finished first in the 400-meter relay. The men’s team won the 4×100-meter race and the 400-meter competition.
Meanwhile, the Moorpark men finished with the furthest distance in the long jump.
The Ventura men’s team had with the quickest time for the 100-meter hurdles and the 800-meter run. The lady Pirates dominated the 1500-meter race, taking the first three places in the event.
Both the Moorpark men and women took the best scores at the meet. The men finished with a score of 148, while the women had a total of 113.
The Pirates men’s and women’s team both finished third overall. The men had a final score of 42, while the women had a score of 43.
Along with the Raiders and Pirates, the meet featured teams from the Citrus, L.A. Valley, and West L.A. colleges.
Funds for the Moorpark College track and field teams will be raised on Wednesday, March 22. A percentage of all proceeds by students who make a purchase at Maui Wowi Coffee & Smoothies on that day will go toward benefiting the track and field program. Maui Wowi is located in Moorpark at 14711 Princeton Avenue. This will be the second fundraiser of the month, which will be aimed at helping the track teams.
Both the Raiders and Pirates will participate in the Bakersfield College Relays at Bakersfield on March 10-11.
Moorpark College´s Tai Battle threw a distance of 180 feet and 3 inches during the track meet at Moorpark on Friday afternoon. (Shad Hopkins)
