Warrior Weekly: Six Stan State athletes break school record in same race
The Stanislaus State women’s track team, particularly the distance runners, are rewriting the Warriors’ record books this season.
Last Saturday at the annual Kim Duyst Track & Field Invitational, history was once again made when six runners surpassed a school record in one race.
To start the day’s events, 12 Warriors ran in the 10,000-meter race at 8:30 a.m. with the goal of completely replacing the Stan State career top 10 list. Seven current Warriors posted times fast enough to be in the top 10 with the top six all breaking the previous record.
All top six finishers are also provisional qualifiers for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in May.
Cynthia Mejia won the event and now holds the new Stanislaus State record in a time of 35 minutes, 47.34 seconds, just a step in front of Clarissa Morales (Modesto/Enochs HS) as the duo sprinted and battled each other in the final 100 meters. Morales timed 35:48.10.
“What a great moment in Stanislaus State track and field history for six ladies to break the school record while also provisionally qualifying shows the dedication and work ethic by the athletes in our program,” Warriors coach Troy Johnson said. “Hats off to coach (Darren) Holman as he continues to lead the Warriors to rewrite our record book in the distance events.”
Kaela Dishion (Angles Camp/Bret Harte HS), a transfer from St. Mary’s College, was third in 35:53.39, followed by Sabrina Garcia (Riverbank/Riverbank HS) in 36:04.58.
Iris Carrillo (Stockton/Weston Ranch HS), who has made a complete recovery from a car crash a year ago, is now the fifth fastest Warrior in the 10K in 36:08.92. Nancy Juarez ran 36:14.03 for sixth to also beat the previous record of 36:14.79 set in 2016 by Gina Wood.
A seventh Warrior — Grace Kenny (36:50.68) — also made it into the new Stan State career top 10 marks in ninth.
Clarissa Menil (Stockton/Bear Creek HS) is also in the record books with the 10th best time in the 100-meter hurdles when she ran 15.37 seconds.
During the indoor track season, the team posted 25 new Stan State top 10 times and marks — including three school records.
Morales set records in the 3,000- and 5,000-meter races and Mejia now holds the record in the mile run. The mile and 3,000-meter records were previously held by newly inducted Warrior Athletics Hall of Famer Courtney Anderson.
A total of 21 new Warrior top 10 times were posted in distance races.
NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship is this weekend: Morales and Mejia are also heading to Birmingham, Alabama, to compete in the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships this week.
Both will run in the 3,000- and 5,000-meter races at the Birmingham CrossPlex, March 13-14. They are looking to become the program’s first First Team All-Americans in indoor track since 2014.
Morales is seeded sixth in the 3K (9:35.31) and 12th in the 5K (16:52.28). Mejia is 14th in the 3K (9:40.54) and seventh in the 5K (16:38.00).
The 5,000-meter run is on Friday at 4:55 p.m. and the 3,000-meter race is Saturday at 5:10 p.m. Video stream of the championships is available on NCAA.com.
CCAA Athletes of the Week: Two Warriors were named California Collegiate Athletic Association athletes of the week in their respective sport on Tuesday.
Mejia was the CCAA Women’s Track Athlete of the Week for her record-breaking performance in the 10,000-meter run.
Rylan Tinsley was the CCAA Baseball Pitcher of the Week for another outstanding start on the mound. The sophomore lefty from Stockton (Weston Ranch HS) threw his second complete game in three starts last Friday against Cal State L.A. Tinsley gave up just one run on five hits and struck out 12 to improve to 6-0 and lowered his ERA to 1.20.
Tennis match for local fans: Area tennis fans will get a chance to see both the Warriors and the Modesto Junior College Pirates in action, at the same time this week.
Stanislaus State women are hosting MJC in an exhibition contest on Saturday at 2 p.m., following the Warriors’ match against Fresno City College at 10 a.m.
Last week to purchase tickets for Warrior Crab Feed: The annual Warrior Athletics Crab Feed is just a few days away with tickets still available and on sale through this Friday.
The fundraising event, which features all-you-can-eat crab, pasta, salad, and bread, is on Saturday, March 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Ed & Bertha Fitzpatrick Arena. Proceed of the event benefits the Warrior Athletics Scholarship Fund.
Tickets are $75 per person and a reserved table of 10, which includes beverages, is $850. Please visit WarriorAthletics.com/CrabFeed for more information and to purchase tickets online.
This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 10:59 AM.