Modesto JC’s Roberts completes field events triple at state meet

Daniel Roberts threw himself into Modesto Junior College history Saturday.

Roberts completed a rare triple in the field events at the California Community College Track and Field Championships at College of San Mateo. The freshman from Mobridge, S.D., opened his day with a win in the shot put (56 feet, 111/2 inches) and, about two hours later, completed his sweep in the discus (180-1).

He captured the hammer throw title Friday (188-6). It was no surprise he was named the meet’s Outstanding Field Events Athlete.

“I was ranked first in the state in the discus and shot, but I was surprised in the hammer,” Roberts said. “It (coming to Modesto) definitely was worth it. I’ll stay another year to work with coach Mac (throws coach Bob MacKay).”

Roberts, a left-hander, dominated all three competitions. He led from the first round in all three, except for a few minutes midway through the discus event.

Eventual runner-up Aaron Russell of San Diego Mesa surged to the lead in the third round. On the next throw, Roberts waited for the 15-mph wind to subside before he unfurled his 180-1. “That’s it!” he yelled as he let it go. Russell challenged on his final attempt, but it fell about 5 feet short.

“Incredible performance,” MJC track coach Demitrius Snaer said. “Probably the hardest thing to do is to be that good in all three of those events.”

Melvin Flax of Delta finished second in the shot put (52-10). Fabian Arana of Modesto placed 11th in the discus (143-0).

The MJC men’s 4x100 relay team, third at NorCals last week, finished strong with a second at state. Dwight Shaw, Matthew East, Justin Burton and Russell Maxwell were timed in 40.79, breaking the 40.89 school record they set last month at the Big 8 Conference Championship. Mt. San Antonio won with a 40.0.

The Pirates’ Grace Perreira cleared a personal-best 10-8 to place sixth in the pole vault. Sarah Mayfield was eighth in the 800 (2:23). Melissa Garcia of MJC was second in the hammer throw Friday.

This story was originally published May 16, 2015 at 8:03 PM with the headline "Modesto JC’s Roberts completes field events triple at state meet."