MJC's Roberts scores impressive field-events triple at NorCals

No one traveled farther away from home than Daniel Roberts to join the Modesto Junior College track team. He has made the trip worth it.

Roberts, a freshman from South Dakota, surprised no one Friday by winning the hammer throw, discus and shot put at the Northern California Finals at American River.

Two of his winning marks, the 190 feet, 10 inches in the discus and the 57-4 3/4 in the shot put, were school records. He also won the hammer in 184-11. Roberts, not seriously challenged in any of the events, separated himself from the field in the discus by 35 feet.

“Daniel has been great all year long. He has not faltered,” said Demitrius Snaer, who watched one of his athletes triple at NorCals for the first time in his 11-year term as coach. “I can’t say anything bad about him.”

Roberts and teammates Dwight Shaw and Matthew East will advance to the State Championships next week at San Mateo in three events.

Shaw placed second in the 100 (10.5 seconds), third in the long jump and anchored the 4x100-meter relay team to a third. He was edged in the 100 by Sequoias’ Drelan Bramwell (10.38).

East placed second in the 200 (21.46) and fourth in the 100 along with his 4x100. Alexies Reynoso worked hard for a third in the 1,500 and a sixth in the 800.

MJC, ranked sixth going into the meet, overachieved for a third in team standings.

Women’s Track

Two MJC champions – MJC brought home two NorCal champions in Melissa Garcia in the hammer throw and Amber Flores in the pole vault.

Garcia, a sophomore from Riverbank, tossed 163-01 on her second attempt for the win. Flores, a freshman from Pitman, cleared 10-8. The Pirates picked up fourth-place finishes by Sarah Mayfield in the 800, Alexandra Golikov in the hammer and Lia Burrell in the triple jump.

Diving

Section finals today – Pitman High junior Natasha Sondeno takes momentum into the Sac-Joaquin Section diving finals today at noon at Johansen. Sondeno, third in the section last year, took first place in Thursday’s South Section Trials.

The top four finishers today will advance to the inaugural State Meet on May 22-23 at Clovis West. The Section Swimming Championships will be held next week at Tokay in Lodi.

Tennis

Semifinalists – Beyer’s Ryan Lewis and Ceres’ Nolan McCaig, both sophomores, have reached the semifinals in their respective divisions at the Section Individual Championships in Roseville. Lewis (18-0), competing in Division I, and McCaig (29-0) in D-2 both won twice in easy fashion and advanced to Thursday’s semifinals at Johnson Ranch Racquet Club.

Ceres’ Julio Ochoa won his first match before he was beaten in the quarterfinals. Downey’s Nick Mendes dropped his first match.

This story was originally published May 8, 2015 at 10:57 PM with the headline "MJC's Roberts scores impressive field-events triple at NorCals."