Puma Track & Field wrapped up their regular season schedule on February 17 and are headed to Washburn University in Topeka, KS, to compete in the NJCAA National Championship Meet. The Pumas had an outstanding indoor season, highlighted by several personal bests, event winners and school records.
PV's indoor campaign began at their own Puma Indoor Invitational on January 21. The Pumas recorded eight victories, five national qualifying marks and two school records. Bringing home first place finishes were Bryce Myers-Haeussler in the men's weight throw, Karsten Deakin in the women's weight throw and women's shot put, Eddie Garcia in the men's shot put, Javon Burton in the men's 60m hurdles, Gilbert Olivas in the 1000m and 3000m, and the men's 4 x 400m relay which included teammates of Pierce Vittone, Javon Burton, Erick Reyes-Aguilera and Isaac Reynolds. Myers-Haeussler's mark of 16.48m (54'1") in the weight throw, Deakin's marks of 3.47m (44'2.5") in the shot put and 14.98m (49'1.75") in the weight throw, Olivas' time of 2:29.35 in the 1000m, and Vittone's time of 2:29.62 were all national qualifying marks. Deakin's marks were also PVCC records in the women's indoor shot put and weight throw.
Following the Puma Indoor Invitational, the Pumas hosted the Paradise Valley Indoor Invitational on January 28 and again racked up several outstanding performances. The throwers led the way with three wins and two school records. Myers-Haeussler won the men's weight throw with a toss of 15.46m (50' 8.75") to improve on his previous national qualifying mark, while Audrey Armstrong and Deakin added not only victories, but school records in their respective events. Armstrong's national meet qualifying throw of 15.30m (50'2.5") brought her back to the top of the list for the women's indoor weight throw, and Deakin's 13.61m (44'8") throw in the shot put extended her school record and improved on her national qualifying mark.
The distance runners, not wanting to be left out, had a solid day of their own with four victories, one national qualifier and a school record. The victories included Olivas in the mile, Chaz Miller in the 1000m, Anilee LeSueur in the women's 3000m, and the men's Distance Medley Relay (DMR). The DMR, including Nathan Pestka, Reyes, Vittone, and Olivas, ran a time of 10:08.16, a national qualifying mark and a school record.
Next on the agenda for the PV track and field squad was the Iowa State Classic in Ames, Iowa. It was the Pumas' first opportunity to showcase their talent on a big stage, and they came through with shining colors. Myers-Haeussler launched his best throw of the season with a booming toss of 17.55m (57'7") in the weight throw (ranking him fifth in the NJCAA national rankings). Olivas followed up with a mile/3000m double, running a school record in the mile with a time of 4:05.99 and a personal best time of 8:19.99 in the 3000m. Both marks were national qualifiers for Olivas. Pestka also qualified in the mile with a 4:19.44, while Sofia Cardozo won the women's 60m dash and recorded a personal best time of 7.77. Miller and Jonathan Barney recorded personal best times in the 3000m, and Vittone closed the deal with a big win, and a school record time of 2:25.60 in the 1000m.
The following weekend, the Pumas went into action at Glendale Community College's Gaucho Invitational. Pumas again dominated the throws events with Myers-Haeussler and Armstrong winning their respective weight throw events and Deakin winning the women's shot put. Armstrong's throw of 14.95m (49' 0.75") in the weight was a personal best. Not to be outdone, Cardozo ran a personal best, and national qualifying time of 7.67 in the 60m, and Jazmin Estrada ran a personal best, and national qualifying time of 3:08.11 in the 1000m. Vittone and Olivas also ran national qualifiers in the 800m with times of 1:53.67 and 1:54.76.
For their final weekend of regular season competition, the Pumas split their squad sending a handful of distance runners (four) to the Arkansas Qualifier Invite at the University of Arkansas and the rest of the team to the NAU Tune-Up at Northern Arizona University. Both meets produced great results.
The NAU Tune-Up turned out to be another exhibition by the PV women throwers. Both Armstrong and Deakin threw personal bests in their events. Armstrong's throw of 15.49m (50'10"), in the weight, left her ninth on the NJCAA indoor qualifying list and broke the school record, while Deakin's throw of 13.62m (44'8.25") in the shot put left her ranked sixth on the NJCAA indoor qualifying list, and also broke the school shot put record.
At the Arkansas Qualifier, it was time for the distance runners to take a shot at records. The Pumas' first event, the 3000m run, featured Barney who ran a personal best, and national qualifying mark, of 8:37.99. In PV's only other event, the mile, the Pumas came home with three personal bests, three national qualifying marks, two section wins, and a school record. In section four of that event, Vittone and Pestka placed first and third, respectively, giving Vittone the win and a new personal best of 4:15.01. Pestka was a close third in 4:16.05. Both marks were national qualifiers. Two sections later, Olivas won his section in a personal best, and school record, of 4:02.30. That time left Olivas at the top of this year's NJCAA rankings in the mile, and it left him ranked as the second fastest indoor miler in NJCAA history.
The Pumas will compete next at the NJCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championship Meet, being held at Washburn University in Topeka, KS, on Friday March 3 and Saturday, March 4.
Paradise Valley qualifiers for the NJCAA National Championship include:
Audrey Armstrong - Weight Throw
Jonathan Barney - 3000m, 4 x 800m
Sofia Cardozo - 60m, 200m
Karsten Deakin - Weight Throw, Shot Put
Jazmin Estrada - 1000m
Oscar Gonzales - 800m, 4 x 800m
Jason Lundgren - 3000m, 4 x 800m
Bryce Myers-Haeussler - Weight Throw
Chaz Miller - 3000m, 4 x 800m
Gilbert Olivas - DMR, Mile
Nathan Pestka - DMR, Mile
Erick Reyes-Aguilera - DMR
Pierce Vittone - DMR, 1000m
Good luck Pumas!
