LA VERNE, CA — The University of La Verne track and field teams hosted the third annual Leopard Invitational, the first meet on their recently renovated Ortmayer Stadium track.
The two-day meet, which has grown every year, featured more than 70 schools from more than 20 states and three countries.
Women's Squad
Ryleigh LaRue ran the fastest time of the season for the Leopards in the 1500m with a PR time of 4:53.46. Jessika Paulson PR'd at 6:08.08 in the event.
Chloe Chong had an excellent meet, posting three personal bests. She ran a new best in the 1500 at 5:09.76 and in the 800m at 2:30.98. She showcased her versatility by setting a PR in the pole vault at 2.75m (9' 0.25"). Elena Cox matched Chong's height in the pole vault to set her own PR. The height places the duo in the top 10 in the SCIAC.
Also in the 800m, Ashley Kodama posted a season best, and Jaiden Kelly added a career best with times of 2:28.73 and 2:41.22, respectively.
CC Flaherty led the Leopards in the 5000m, running a career best and the fastest La Verne time this year at 20:56.51, shaving over a minute off her previous best time.
In the jumps, Jaila Counts led La Verne with a PR in the Long jump at 4.07m (13' 4.25").
Semone Flowers added the best mark of the season for the Leopards and a PR in the javelin at 24.94m (81' 10").
Madison Xie PR'd in the hammer with a distance of 34.07m (111' 9").
Journee Jones PR'd in the shot put with a mark of 10.41m (34' 2").
Men's Squad
Sir Jordan Underwood led the Leopards with a win in the triple jump (12.68m, 41' 7.25") and a third-place showing in the high jump (1.75m, 5' 8.75"), adding PR's in both events.
Luke Bentley finished third in the long jump with a new best leap of 6.52m (1.1) 21' 4.75"). He also PR'd in the 200m (23.16). Towart Kahungu finished sixth in the long jump (6.32m, 20' 9"), and Jaden Anderson took eighth (6.08m, 19' 11.5").
Hunter Bond finished fourth in the 400m run with a time of 47.71, his fastest time of the season. He also took fifth in the 110m hurdles at 17.34.
Alec Maxwell took fourth in the pole vault, matching his career best height of 4.40m (14' 5.25"), placing him fifth in the SCIAC.
The Leopards had two top-five finishers in the shot put, led by Ryan Benschop in third and Kevin Esquivel in fifth. Benschop had an outstanding meet, setting personal bests in four events. Along with the shot put, he had new top marks in the discus (29.58m, 97' 0"), hammer throw ( 30.51m, 100' 1"), and the javelin (26.95m, 88' 5"). Esquivel PR'd in the shot put and the discus (26.99m, 88' 6").
Jamontay Jackson PR'd and finished 7th in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:08.14.
Eamon Wright and Joseph Chavarria PR'd in the 5000m at 14:56.38 and 16:19.17, respectively.
Zyeir Lasley-Shabete posted the best time of the year for the Leos in the 800m at 1:56.56. Logan Ciszek ran a new best in the 3000m steeplechase (10:30.83).
Next Meet
The Leopards return to action at the Mt. SAC relays on Saturday, April 25.
