Spring break kicked off at CSM Bulldog Invite

Spring break kicked off with an opportunity for both the men's and women's track & field teams to show improvement much closer to home at the CSM Bulldog Invitational in San Mateo. On a very warm Friday, the Panthers emerged with two new State "A" marks and several seasonal bests.

Gabriela Cardenas added the 3k steeplechase State "A" to her growing resume with a state leading 11:40.14 debut. That moves the Rancho San Juan grad into fourth fastest all-time trailing only Norcal champion Victora Alcala (11:14) and two regional runner-ups in Rachel Shimabukuro (11:28) and Nancy Rodriguez (11:29). Cardenas now has state qualifying marks at 1500, 5000, 10,000, and in the 3k steeplechase. A pair of additional freshmen also competed in the steeplechase with Angelina Tran (12:24.37) giving the former regional leader a scare for second place and Deisy Gracida Gabriel (12:48.49) just missing the "A" standard by 0.39 seconds. Tran also lowered her season best in the 400mLH to 73.13. Frosh Jacqueline Orellana ran 13.67 in the 100 meters and set a season best long jump of 4.62m in her return to both events. Chantal Ramos-Verdin had two season bests in the shot put (8.05m) and javelin (19.71m). 

The Panthers will send a select group at the tailend of spring break to the West Coast Relays at Buchanan High School on Friday-Saturday, March 27-28.