Modesto JC’s Wallace dominates sprints at NorCals

Donovan Wallace gets faster with each passing day.

Five years ago, the Modesto Junior College sprinter won the 100 meters at the Northern California Community College Championships and placed third at the state meet.

Fast-forward to Saturday at Chabot College, where Wallace one-upped himself at the NorCals. Not only did he sweep the 100 and 200 (the latter a school record), he contributed to an MJC victory and school record in the 4x100 relay.

Wallace, the No. 2 man in the 4x100, joined Justin Burton, Windsor Jamison and Dante Berggren, who finished in 40.72 seconds. That bettered the 40.79 set in 2015 by Dwight Shaw, Matthew East, Burton and Russell Maxwell.

In the 100, Wallace clocked 10.34 to edge Holland Cabara of Sequoias. The MJC sprinter finished his day in the 200 with a victorious 20.63, which erased former Pirate Joe Turner’s 20.74 in 2007.

MJC sophomore Daniel Roberts, a three-time state champion in 2015, again will be watched closely in the throws at this week’s state meet at San Diego Mesa. Roberts took home NorCal titles in the hammer (208 feet, 3 inches) and discus (179-0).

Teammate Erick Loomis placed second in the hammer and discus. In fact, Loomis led the hammer until Roberts’ final attempt.

The Pirates’ men placed third in the team standings with 100 points, three behind runner-up Sequoias. American River won with 180.5.

“I thought we had a good day,” MJC coach Demitrius Snaer said. “We’re always hoping for more. We did have a chance for second, but it was a couple of points here and there.”

The MJC women placed fourth. Their highlights included second-place finishes by Breanna Lowther in the hammer (156-2), Amber Flores in the pole vault (10-9 1/2 ) and Dana Pollard in the steeplechase (11 minutes, 46.94 seconds). Alexandria Clausen of Fresno edged Flores in the pole vault because of fewer misses. Pollard trailed steeplechase champion Michele Perez-Lopez of De Anza by more than five seconds.

Picking up thirds were Lowther in the shot put, Lia Burrell in the triple jump, Harleen Pabla in the 800 and the 4x100 quartet of Dani Olson, Lyric Anderson, Chabryel Snaer and Jordan McNeal.

This story was originally published May 14, 2016 at 11:50 PM with the headline "Modesto JC’s Wallace dominates sprints at NorCals."