Chris Yates qualifies in the Hammer Throw for May 15 So Cal ChampionshipBy Fernando Alcantara
By Fernando Alcantara
Sun managing editor
For the first time in Golden West College’s history, a Rustler athlete will compete for a Southern California Regional Championship in the hammer throw event.
Chris Yates threw a Golden West record of 157 feet and three inches in the hammer throw, breaking his previous personal best and GWC record of 156 feet on Saturday May 8 at Saddleback College during the Southern California Preliminaries.
The throw placed him sixth in his flight, and tenth overall which is enough to qualify and move on to May 15’s SoCal Championships.
“It feels good,” Yates said of his chance at a State Title. “I feel confident but feel I can do better.”
Although Yates has already made a name for himself in the hammer throw event, it’s his ability in the shot-put where Yates believed he could really succeed, currently tied for third place in the state.
“I’ve thrown for 55 feet in practice and I hope to throw around that for the shot-put,” Yates said of his abilities. Unfortunately, Yates did not meet his practice marks and only threw for 45 feet, seven inches while teammate Miles Davy bested him with a 46 foot, three inch throw taking sixth overall.
Yates finished eighth overall in the shot-put. Both men move on to the SoCal Regional Championships for the shot-put while only Miles Davy will move on to compete in the discus throw.
For the women, Alejandra Sifuentes placed second in the discus throw with a 140 foot, eight inch throw while Angel Togafau placed seventh in the women’s hammer throw at 130 feet, five inches.
It is no surprise for Coach Pug Pierce that Togafau will be competing for her first State title in that event on May 15.
“Angel’s a machine,” Coach Pierce said about Togafau’s abilities. “She throws the same numbers, all the time. If she doesn’t do well today, I’ll be surprised.”
“It’s really cool,” Togafau said of her new-found abilities. “I just started doing this about 10 months ago? And now I’m here!”
On the track side of the meet, Blake Sisk tied for first with nine other competitors in the high jump. All nine athletes posted a five foot, 1 inch jump.
Yates, Davy, Togafau, Sifuentes and Sisk all move on to the Southern California Regional Championships and will compete again at Saddleback College, May 15. The winners there move on to the California State Championships on May 21 at Antelope Valley College.
VANESSA BROWN competes in the javeiln.
