WHITTIER, Calif. — Zaria Opara won the hammer throw with a heave of 50.25 meters to lead California Lutheran University on day one of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Track and Field Championships on Saturday.
The Regals entered the championships in fourth-place with four points, just four points behind first-place. After the first day, the Purple and Gold moved up a spot and are currently third with 28 points. The meet is scored 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 for all events. Eight athletes advance to the finals in all track events except the 4x100-meter and 4x400-meter relays. Nine athletes will advance to the finals in all field events.
Opara's big throw moved her up in the Cal Lutheran record book. She is just the second Regal to clear 50 meters for the hammer. Her mark of 50.25 meters is the second-longest in program history.
Opara added a runner-up finish in the discus and McKenzie Gerken made it two Regals on the podium as she placed third. Opara had a mark of 39.30 meters and Gerken recorded 39.06.
Gerken added more points to Cal Lutheran's total. She was fifth in the hammer with a throw of 39.30 meters.
More top finishers for the Regals were Brooke Hugo as she was 11th in the 3000 meter steeple chase with 14 minutes and 38.91 seconds and Jasmine Rico was 18th in the long jump with 4.08 meters.
Saturday was also the prelims for a majority of running events and consisted of 1500 meters, 100 meter hurdles, 400 meters, 100 meters, 800 meters, 400 meter hurdles and 200 meters.
Qualifying for the finals on Sunday was Jolie Caya in the 110m hurdles (15.50 seconds), Samira Negrete in the 800m (2:21.71) and Hannah Sewall (1:09.52) and Fatima Cervantes (1:14.01) in the 400m hurdles.
More top finishers for the Regals were Jasmyne Santamaria Holliday as she finished ninth in the 100m (12.66), Cassidy Fukuda was 14th in the 400m (1:05.49) and 22nd in the 200m (28.51) and Cora Hautekeete was 22nd in the 1500m (5:24.93).
The Regals are back at it tomorrow for day two of the SCIAC Championships. The meet resumes at 2 p.m.
Results: 2022 SCIAC Track & Field Championships Day One
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director