Lions Hit State Marks At ARC

The De Anza College track & field teams participated in the Beaver Invitational last Saturday at American River College in Sacramento.

Once again, several Mountain Lions finished at the top of their respective events, qualifying with State marks.

Freshman Genesis Mailangi produced a personal-best in the javelin (32.77m) - the only athlete over 30m. 

Mailangi won the hammer (42.47m) over a pair of sophomore competitors from Santa Rosa.

She also set a PR in the discus (38.57m) in a second-place finish. Her fifth-place finish in the shot put (11.10m) came at the end of a long hot day.

"I was pretty happy with my performance until the end," Mailangi said.

"This was the most relaxed event, where I didn't feel any nerves. My goal is still to earn State A marks in all four events and be No. 1 in California."

Freshman Bethany Chan posted a PR, winning the 100m hurdles with a time of 15.59 - tied for No. 7 in school history.

Sophomore Marisa Windham placed third in the 100m (12.59) - a new PR from 12.90.

"Even though I got out late, I still was happy with the performance," Windham said.

"This week's focus is on my driving base and getting out hard."

Freshman Sarah Morales finished fourth in the 200m (26.92).

Sophomore Kaylin Mootz won the women's long jump at 5.14m, while Chan (4.78m) finished third.

In the women's 1500m, freshman Corinne Thelen (5:17.06) placed in the Top 5 and freshman Siena Pignataro was seventh.

Sophomore Benjamin Feldstein won the hammer (46.39m) and sophomore teammate Alex Gurley (39.62m) took third.

Feldstein also placed sixth in discus (36.92m).

Sophomore Vincent Nguyen set a PR in the 100m (10.77, third place) - seventh fastest in De Anza College history.

"I did well, but I think next week at Modesto we should have the best conditions on a fast track."

The Lions dominated the men's 3000m Steeplechase with sophomore James Estrella (9:51.13) taking first, followed by sophomore Diego Ochoa-Mendez (9:51.49, second), sophomore Luis Folkers (10:23.09, sixth), sophomore Koyo Kai (10:27.66, seventh), sophomore Jack Park (10:27.71, eighth), and freshman Jerry Dang (10:49.50, 10th).

In the men's 4x100 relay, DA was runner-up (42.83) as sophomore Vincent Nguyen, freshman Fabian Oduk, sophomore Kevin Klemm, and freshman Lleyton Houston finished behind American River.

UP NEXT: DA will compete at the annual Jack Albiani Invitational at Modesto Junior College on Friday.