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Vikings Track and Field prepare for SoCal Finals

By Isabel Murty

The Vikings Track and Field athletes will compete in the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) Southern California Finals and are expected to take part in the State Championship. 

If the athletes score high enough in the SoCal Finals, they will advance to the State Championship.

Runners Marqus Guzman, Nevaeh Lane and Javelin throwers Gavin Wang and Lauren Ferguson all have the ability to advance to State. 

“All of those specific athletes have the ability and chance to advance to the state finals. As well as our relays, if we put it all together, we can pull off some upsets and get our relay teams in the state meets,” Coach Marcus Caroll said.

Guzman placed third overall in the men’s 100-meter dash and fourth in the 200-meter for his races during the SoCal prelims, while Lane came fifth overall in the women’s 100-meter and 200-meter races.

“We have a couple of them that are really talented, we have Marques Guzman, he’s number two in the state for the 200, but one number one in our region and so he is favored to win,” Caroll said.

Wang came in third place for javelin and hopes to beat Mt. SAC javelin thrower Taiyo Ishiguro, who came in first place during the SoCal prelims. 

“This guy from Mt. Sac named Taiyo Ishiguro, at the conference finals I lost to him by a few centimeters, so I’m trying to beat him, ” Wang said when asked about who his biggest competition is. 

The team is preparing for the finals by having quick workouts and focusing on the body so that the Vikings come into these races in peak form.  

From left, Jahphet Welch, Justin Auston, Malaki Alexander-Fonfara and Khalil Warren running during practice on Tuesday May 6. (Isabel Murty)

“Right now we are doing a lot of fine tuning, making sure our athletes are completely healthy, mentally and physically,” Caroll said. 

According to the coaching staff, the team has to believe in themselves as individuals.

“They can compete with anybody else that we go against. It’s just that they’re their biggest rivals. They have to believe that they can do and not have self doubt,” women’s head coach Karen Vigilant said. 

The SoCal finals take place on Saturday at Saddleback College at 10:20 a.m. and the State Championship at San Mateo College on May 16 at 9:30 a.m. and May 17 at 9 a.m.

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