Track looks to improve from the 2015 season

Kyle Cortez, Reporter

The Bakersfield College track and field team is hoping to continue and improve from last season. “We want our sophomores to improve, and we want the freshman to come in, make an impact, and improve from where they were in high school,” said BC coach Pam Kelley. Kelley thinks highly of her team and believes that they all have potential in their respective fields. “I would like to see Taira Saunders, Marilyn Quintero and Kassidy Murphy all have a good season. I think that the whole team should have a good season because they all put in a lot of work in the fall. The men’s 4×400-relay team went to the SoCal finals last year and two of the four members are returning, so we’re happy there. We’ll see what impact our cross country guys can do in their races,” said Kelley. Their first meet was on Jan. 30 at the Antelope Valley College All-Comer Meet. “This meet gives the freshman a chance to know how a college meet runs because it’s a little bit different than a high school meet. It’s a ‘get-your-feet-wet’ kind of meet,” said Kelley. The BC track and field team had a few winners from the Antelope Valley College All-Comer Meet. Three women on the BC team placed first in four of the events. Taira Saunders placed first in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.98 seconds. Saunders also placed first in the 200 with a time of 27.41. Sah’Nya Terry took first in the shot put event with a throw of 33 feet 07.5 inches. Marilyn Quintero took first in the discus event with a throw of 119 feet 0.6 inches. Also, the women’s C-relay team took first in the 4×400-meter race with a time of 4 minutes 33.48 seconds. The BC men’s team had three men place first in three events. Diante Henderson placed first in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.66 seconds. Daniel Aguirre took first in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes 1.58 seconds. Tristan Mcgee placed first in the long jump event with a jump of 20 feet 11.75 inches. One of the men’s 4×400-meter relay teams took first place, while the other relay team placed ninth. Relay team C took first in the 4×400 meter relay with a time of 3 minutes 27.13 seconds. Relay team A placed ninth with a time of 3:53.72.