Rendon Captures Gold at OCC Invite
By the end of last season, Westcliff’s track and field team had established a couple of names that figured to make a lot of noise in 2023. That time has come. Junior Abelardo Rendon captured his first high-jump gold of the season in his first attempt Friday afternoon in Costa Mesa, where Orange Coast College held its indoor/outdoor invitational.
By Brandon Petersen
By the end of last season, Westcliff's track and field team had established a couple of names that figured to make a lot of noise in 2023.
That time has come.
Abelardo Rendon captured his first high-jump gold of the season in his first attempt Friday afternoon in Costa Mesa, where Orange Coast College held its indoor/outdoor invitational.
Rendon outlasted Chapman's Evan Giacobbe, clearing 1.80M, or 5-feet, 10.75 inches, to win the competition after Giacobbe failed to clear the same height.
Rendon was unsuccessful in his three attempts at 1.85M, so he will be working to clear that height moving forward.
His next attempt will be next weekend in Santa Barbara.
Rendon was hardly the only Warrior to impress Friday.
Jonas Koturenka won his heat in the men's 400M dash with a finish of 52.76 seconds, just beating Tyler Denes of Concordia.
Koturenka took sixth overall in the event and was the top frosh performer. The next closest first-year runner was Cerritos College's Jacob Jimenez, who finished at 53.31 seconds.
Although he didn't win his heat, Koturenka actually finished better in the 600M, placing fifth overall with a time of 1:26.79.
Also on the men's side, Aidan Wahl placed 27th in the highly-competitive 60M dash, turning in a result of 7.84 seconds.
Wahl also threw the shot put and discus. He placed 10th in the shot put (10.47M) and 14th in the discus (25.53M).
In the long jump, Alexandro Villegas finished 16th, turning in a leap of 17-feet, 5.25-inches.
On the women's side, Lauren Coppla turned in Westcliff's best finish in the 60M dash (8.85 seconds). Evette Mendoza finished in 8.97 seconds and Haley Garcia turned in a 9.1-second result.
Coppla also impressed in the 200, finishing 24th with a 30.61-run.
Mendoza, meanwhile took 21st in the 200 with a mark of 29.84 seconds, and Garcia took 23rd overall with a time of 30.09 seconds.
Nicole Moore ran the 200M as well and turned in a mark of 30.81 seconds, but turned in her best performance of the day in the 400. She took 11th place overall with a time of 1:13.61.
In the field events, Abigail Strong took 18th in the shot put with a toss of 7.22M, and 15th in the discus with a mark of 16.32M.
Natalie Ziegler, meanwhile, took 22nd in the shot put (6.38M) and 14th overall in the discus with a mark of 18.46M.
The Sunshine Open in scenic Santa Barbara is the next event on Westcliff's docket.
The Warriors will travel up the coast for a 9 a.m. start next Saturday.
Westcliff returns to Orange County Saturday the 18th, for the Soka invitational in Aliso Viejo.
That meet begins at 9 a.m. as well.