Carreras Smashes Spring Record in Long Beach

Aaliyah Carreras powers home to the finish of the 100 meters in a record setting 11.88 seconds.

April 9, 2023

Hartnell sprinter Aaliyah Carreras has enjoyed one of the best sprint seasons to date but Friday's 100 meters marked her true arrival as a top sprinter in the state. After traveling seven hours by bus, Carreras stepped into the blocks not knowing how the day would start. After 11.88 seconds, Carreras was now the Hartnell College program record holder in the 100 meters and the first to ever cover the distance in under 12 seconds. She lowered the previous mark by 0.13 seconds. Ashley Jones had held the mark since 2013. Carreras is currently ranked second in Northern California in the 100 meters. She returned to the track just a little over one hour later and became the third ever to sprint the 200 meters in under 25 seconds. Her time of 24.84 puts her in signts of the school record of 24.62, also held by Jones.

Sofia Camacho won two events despite the short time schedule. She won the 1500 meters in 4:48.39, besting state cross country runner-up Marikay Schwab, then took the 800 meters in 2:24.35. Rigth behind her was teammate Andrea Villegas who finished second in the 1500 meters (4:54.78), 800 meters (2:24.97), and won the 5000 meters (19:41.50) with Camacho second in 19:41.52. Roxana Ruelas got her State "A" in the 400 meters winning over Socal top hurdlers Kathryn Tamminga and Radiance Lindsey of host LBCC. Ruelas took almost two seconds off her season best winning in 1:06.06. She now sits second in Northern California to Isela Ochoa of Merritt College. Ruelas also lead the Hartnell sprinters in her second consecutive 17.07 performance. Dominique Cervantes-Samudio debuted in the 800 meters at 2:28.15.

In the field events, Aaliyah Carreras debuted in the high jump and won clearing 1.42m/4-7.75. Lorraine Mankins won the pole vault in 3.12m/10-2.75. Freshman Grace Padron lead in the throws. She tossed the shot put 8.92m/29-3.25 and the discus 32.15m/105-6 to take the win. Freshman Linette Martinez-Morales improved in the discus to 28.78m/94-5. Clodine Tabernilla won the javelin in 30.36m/99-7. Mercedes Rosales-Rivera was second in 27.59m/90-6.

The Panthers will split squads between the De Anza Field Meet on Thursday and the Johnny Mathis Invitational at San Francisco State University on Friday and Saturday. This will be the second visit to SFSU this season with several Panthers having competed there in the Mike Fanelli Classic.