The Cerritos College women's track and field team concluded an outstanding season over the weekend by finishing fourth in the California Community College Athletic Association state championships at American River College. The Falcons finished with 50 team points and trailed co-champions - and conference rivals - Mt. San Antonio College and El Camino College, who had 81 team points, as well as host American River with 69 team points. Had Cerritos been able to match some of their best times and distances of the year at the state championships, they would have also been in the running for the title.
The team posted a pair of second and third places at the championships, but could have won two events and moved up in the standings in four other events.
Sophomore sprinter Cora Radley (J.W. North HS/Los Angeles Southwest College) finished second in the 400 meters with a time of 55.14 and was only defeated by El Camino's Shale' Garland, who registered a time of 54.47. In the 200 meters, Radley struggled and finished seventh in a time of 25.44, which was well off her personal best time of 24.14, which would have won the event and scored more team points. Sophomore hurdler Brandi Gerardo (Alhambra HS/East Los Angeles College) placed third in the 400-meter IH with a time of 1:03.27, which was shy of her best time of the year - 1:01.84 - and would have moved her up to second place. She ran a 15.10 in the 100-meter high hurdles to come in fifth place, but a time of 14.49 that she ran at the Southern California Championships would have catapulted her into third place.
In the field events, freshman Priscilla Gardner (Mission Viejo HS), who appeared to be a lock to win the discus, finished in second place behind Jazmin Porter of Shasta College. Gardner, who holds the school record with a throw of 165' 3", turned in a distance of 148' 11". Gardner also took third in the shot put with a throw of 41' 9 3/4", which was over three feet shy of her personal best. Had she matched her best toss of 44' 6 3/4", she would have placed third in the competition. Freshman Destini Poplar (Bellflower HS) also finished in 11th place, despite having only three throws.
In the sprints, sophomore Bryana Smith (Serra HS) took third place in the 100 meters with a time of 12.14, with Los Angeles Valley College's Jasmine Woods winning in 12.08. Freshman teammate Vernasha Poole (Cheyenne, NV HS) placed seventh in 12.40. The team also had a pair of sixth place finishes in the relay races, with the quartet of sophomore Brandi Straughter (Valencia HS), Smith, Poole and Radley turn in a time of 46.99, while sophomore Tanisha Hawkins (Long Beach Poly HS), Gerardo, sophomore Janelle Edwards (Mayfair HS) and Radley ran a 3:54.11.
Sophomore Cassie Mejia (El Rancho HS) ran the 1500 meters in 4:52.59 to come in eighth place, while a personal best time of 4:47.29 would have moved her up two spots. In the hammer, freshman Aisha Diakite (El Rancho HS) came in eighth place at 138' 7", and fouled in her final three attempts to improve on her finish.
| NAME | EVENT | TIME/DISTANCE | PLACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryana Smith | 100 Meters | 12.14 | 3rd Place |
| Vernasha Poole | 100 Meters | 12.40 | 7th Place |
| Cora Radley | 200 Meters | 25.44 | 7th Place |
| Cora Radley | 400 Meters | 55.14 | 2nd Place |
| Cassie Mejia | 1500 Meters | 4:52.59 | 8th Place |
| Brandi Gerardo | 100-Meter HH | 15.10 | 5th Place |
| Brandi Gerardo | 400-Meter IH | 1:03.27 | 3rd Place |
| Straughter, Smith, Poole, Radley | 4x100-Meter Relay | 46.99 | 6th Place |
| Hawkins, Gerardo, Edwards, Radley | 4x400-Meter Relay | 3:54.11 | 6th Place |
| Priscilla Gardner | Discus | 148' 11" | 2nd Place |
| Aisha Diakite | Hammer | 138' 7" | 8th Place |
| Priscilla Gardner | Shot Put | 41' 9 3/4" | 5th Place |
| Destini Poplar | Shot Put | 37' 10 3/4" | 11th Place |