Panthers Shine at Kyle Robinson Twilight

The Kyle Robinson Twilight 3k/5k was born after the COVID-19 pandemic and turned into an anticipated annual fall affair allowing athletes to test their cross country fitness on the track. This year's edition was held at Merritt College in Oakland and attended by ten community colleges and one NCAA DI program in St. Mary's College.

In the women's 5000 meters, freshman Gabriela Cardenas put up the fourth fastest performance for the Panthers in the meet's history. She debuted over the 12.5 lap distance in 19:08.98 to place sixth overall. That mark was the twelfth best ever by any female from any school. Freshman Alexa Flores flirted with a sub 20:00 minute clocking running her fastest track 5000m ever in 20:03.82. Five more Panther women would finish all within 27 seconds led by freshman Jenna Partida in a solid 20:31.30. Right behind were Yareli Meza (20:33.12), Deisy Gracida Gabriel (20:45.18), Karen Perez (20:48.86), and Janai Orozco (20:58.98). Freshmen Angelina Tran was timed in 21:25.49 and Bethzi Velazquez (22:54.96) also competed for the first time at 5000m on the track.

Sophomore Giancarlo Mendo paced the Panther men in their 5000m race with his lifetime best 15:32.51. Fellow sophomores Alvaro Ruelas (15:45.70) and Gabriel Clemente (15:46.99) were not far behind Mendo. Ivan Martinez-Galindo (15:52.12) broke 16 minutes for the first time in his Hartnell College career. Freshman Giovanni Ochoa was timed in 15:56.86 to give the Panthers five under the 16 minute barrier. Sophomore Leyder Hernandez (16:32.65) took 30 seconds off his performance from last year. Aaron Eldredge (16:41.63) and Jose Contreras, Jr. (16:42.22) finished close together.

The Panther will next compete at the Tri-State Challenge in Las Vegas on Friday, September 26. The Panther men will be challenged with racing over 8km (4.97 miles) versus 3C2A programs but also those from the NJCAA in Nevada and Arizona. The Hartnell women will race over 5km (3.1 miles).