FOUR KNIGHTS EARN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BIDS

photo by Mike Daly

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Four Shasta College track and field competitors qualified for the California Community College Athletic Association State Championships after finishing among the top placers at the NorCal Finals Friday at Sacramento City College.

For the women, Cassie Young will compete in the pole vault and high jump, Claire Walton advanced in the shot put, Justin Hellyer is headed to state to defend Shasta's state championship in the javelin throw after Brian Berg won it last year, and Cody Beaumont advances in the triple jump. Beaumont will not compete due to a scheduling conflict, said Bryon Hamilton, Shasta College's head track and field coach.

Beaumont had two top-10 finishes at the NorCal Finals meet, including a third-place finish in the triple jump with a mark of 45 feet, 6.5 inches, which he hit on his sixth attempt. Beaumont was eighth in the long jump with a mark of 21-2. He was also 17th in the 200-meter dash in 22.48 seconds.

Young tied for third in the high jump, hitting her season-high mark of 5-1, nailing her first attempt at each of the four heights from 4-7 to 5-1. Young was also third in the pole vault (10-0) and the sophomore has a chance to achieve back-to-back All-American status.

"Cassie, who finished second at state last year, is competing in two events and this will be the third consecutive year we will have an athlete in the women's pole vault," Hamilton said.

Hellyer was seventh overall in the javelin throw. He threw 168-10 on his first attempt to help him reach the final nine and then threw 168-11 on his fifth attempt for seventh.

Walton was fourth in the shot put, hitting 38-0.75 on her third attempt out of five. She threw 37-6.75 in her first attempt, followed by 36-1.5 and 38-0.75, respectively to make the finals. In the finals, she didn't throw farther than 37-6.75. Walton was sixth in the discus, throwing 106-11 on her final attempt. Her throw of 112-9 in the final attempt of the preliminary round earned her a trip to the finals, where she secured sixth place. Walton also finished 16th in the hammer throw with a mark of 106-5 in her first attempt.

"Justin will try to defend our state championship in the javelin and Claire has a great shot to do very well in the shot," Hamilton said. "It's exciting to have established a consistent presence at the state championship."

For other Shasta competitors, Patrick Bigelow was sixth in the pole vault (14-3.25). He cleared both 12-9.5 and 13-3.5 on his first attempt, and 14-3.25 on his third and final attempt to put him in the top six. Only two competitors cleared 14-9.

Cole Parker was eighth in the shot put, tossing 43-3 on his second finals attempt. He reached the finals with a throw of 41-10.5 and his next best throw in the finals was 42-9.5. Parker was ninth in the hammer throw, reaching the finals with a throw of 164-0 on his second try. He couldn't beat that mark in the finals recording a 155-10 on his best throw.

Erik Valdez was a pole vault finalist, hitting 14-3.75, but didn't clear the finals starting height of 12-9.5 on his three finals attempts to finish 14th overall.

Chris Rosero was 11th in the 100 (11.05) and 12th in the 200 (22.16).

Payton Harrell was 11th overall in the shot put overall with a throw of 41-7.75. Harrell was eighth in the preliminaries with a mark of 42-9.75. Ashton Vanzant reached 12.48 on his second attempt but didn't make the finals, finishing 12th.

Aedan Slack was 12th overall in the hammer throw. Slack reached the finals with a mark of preliminary-best mark of 134-7. He finished last in the final round with a distance of 133-1. Peter Savride was 15th in the hammer throw with a 136-10.