Long layoff hasn’t slowed MJC’s Wallace

Five years have passed since Donovan Wallace made his first impact at Modesto Junior College.

He sprinted to a Northern California title in the 100 meters and a third-place finish at the state meet in 2010. On the football field, he excelled as a dangerous kick returner and receiver.

And then Wallace called a halt to his athletic career after a short stay at Virginia University of Lynchburg. He eventually found employment at a local grocery store and, while taking a few classes at MJC, collected wisdom.

“I didn’t want to be a what-could-have-been,” he said Friday. “I got tired of telling people, ‘I’m coming back in a year.’ I decided to do it.”

Wallace, 24, is back.

His angular and powerful stride has not changed, and neither have the results. He thundered through a cold and nasty headwind for victories in the 100 (10.90 seconds) and 200 (22.03) to spark the annual Jack Albiani Invitational at MJC Stadium. In fact, MJC sprinters filled the top four spots in the 200 and the top five in the 100.

“I like to see what my teammates are doing and making sure they’re getting better,” Wallace said. “I’ve changed that way. I guess it’s a part of getting older. I’m a lot more team-oriented than I used to be.”

The wet and cool conditions denied optimum times and marks, but the athletes from nine schools appreciated the competition. Many will return to MJC for the Big 8 Conference Championships on April 25-28.

Modesto’s strength in the field events will not decline, as long as Daniel Roberts remains on campus. The returning state champion in the hammer throw, discus and shot put already has made major news, and he’s pushed by teammates.

Roberts, from Mobridge, S.D., watched last month as fellow Pirate Erick Loomis opened the season by tossing the hammer 195 feet, 9 inches to break Tyler Lamont’s school record. One week later, Roberts logged a big-league answer – 208-10.

Roberts’ triple at the Albiani – 196-7 in the hammer, 169-4 in the discus and 52-5 in the shot put – suggests more special moments ahead.

“We (Roberts and Loomis) are going to battle it out all year,” Roberts said. “He’s technically solid. I’m not, but I’m strong. We push other in the weight room and in the field.”

Roberts, aware of the target on his back, already has scoped potential rivals this season. He’s striking a balance between the present (day-to-day improvement) and the future (visiting the major universities that are recruiting him).

“I feel the heat, especially in the shot put. Some guys are doing well,” he said. “The pressure is coming up.”

Roberts’ power in the field events is mirrored on the MJC women’s team by sophomore Breanna Lowther. Like Roberts, Lowther already is ranked among the state’s best in three events, and she validated her strong early season with wins in the discus (132-6), shot (36-11) and hammer (155-2). Both Lowther and teammate Dana Pollard (second in the 5,000) already have been honored as Big 8 Athletes of the Week.

Picking up double victories for Modesto were freshman Alexies Reynoso in the 800 (1:57.25) and the 1,500 (4:15.19) and sophomore Lia Burrell in the 400 (1:02.95) and the triple jump (33-5).

MJC’s Deaven Booker overpowered the field in the javelin (171-11), as did Cecilia Carretero in the 800 (2:29.43).

This story was originally published March 11, 2016 at 6:35 PM with the headline "Long layoff hasn’t slowed MJC’s Wallace."