Bakersfield College hosted the Western State Conference finals in track and field on April 29.
Citrus College, Glendale College, College of the Canyons, Ventura, Allan Hancock, Moorpark, Santa Barbara, West L.A., Cuesta, L.A. Valley and BC were the schools that participated. The BC men’s team ended up placing fifth with the women placing eighth.
The meet was split into two weeks. The first week was mostly field events and the event on April 29 was mostly track events.
BC has 18 individuals that are going on to the Southern California Meet. The men that have qualified are Robby Harris, the conference champion in the high jump; Craig Ferris, who got third in the conference in the 400-meter hurdles; and Darien Moore, who got first in both the hammer throw and the shot put.
Some notables for the women’s team are Serena Underwood, who got second in the pole vault and Breann Goodman who got second in the hammer throw.
Myren Moore, freshmen, said, “I thought I did good seeing how I missed the first six weeks of track and to be running at this level right now. I missed those six weeks because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to come out. It was a tough decision because the track and field team is different in college than it is in high school. I thought I was really prepared because the coaches were working with me.”
Dave Frickel, head coach of the men’s track and field team, said, “As Myren was making his last turn on the 400-meter he ended up getting a blister on the side of his foot because he runs so hard on the turns, so he got a blister or a heat spot, but he is such a good competitor, doesn’t accept losing and that’s what helped him get fourth.”
Craig Ferris, a freshmen, said, “I thought I could’ve done better by staying in better form at the end of the last turn. For some reason it just got messed up.” He ended up getting third in the 400-meter hurdles on Friday and ended up in third for the conference.
Harris, a sophomore, said, “It felt good because it was my goal to get first place in the high jump as a sophomore and what made it even more special was that I was one of the only sophomores out there. Since it was mostly freshmen out there I just felt since I was a sophomore I deserved it more.”
Harris also said that he wants to keep doing the high jump when he transfers to either Fresno Pacific, Northridge or some of the other choices that are close to home.
“I want to do well in the Southern California Meet and to jump 6-10 to 7 feet,” said Harris.
Moore, a sophomore, said, “I wasn’t happy with my technique I just think these past two weeks my technique has been off. Getting first place in the hammer throw and shot put and hopefully I can do it in the Southern California Meet.”
“If I actually get first in that meet it means my training paid off, but not just that, it also means that it would be great. Not just for me but for everyone that has supported me. I really want to continue doing this when I choose to transfer to a different college and hopefully I can compete in the NCAA.”
“This meet there weren’t many competitors competing in races and in some events none at all,” Frickel said. “But the reason for that was we didn’t have anyone who can compete in certain events because they are not able to adjust from high school to college. I haven’t had the luck to have a lot of athletes that can handle that change.
“The reason for having two weeks for this conference final is to help the athletes who do more than one event so they don’t destroy the athlete, I think it’s a great idea,” said Frickel. “This year has been full of surprises and this meet was no different. I expected it from Darien, but Myren surprised me.
Serena and Breann also surprised me. I was hoping more individuals could qualify and hopefully they can survive. Track and field is like the show Survivor: you got to see what you got from week to week.”