Fields Earns 800 SCC Title; Women’s Track Best Conference Finish In 11 Years

COMPLETE SCC PRELIMS/CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

Led by a victory in the 800 meters by Deniya Fields, the Pasadena City College women’s track and field team placed fourth at the South Coast Conference Championships held at Long Beach City College on Saturday. It was the program’s best finish since 2014 when it also took fourth.

Fields became the first SCC individual champion for the Lancers since Bay Hollinger won the high jump in 2022. She is the first to win a running event since ParaOlympian Breanna Clark captured the 400 meters title in 2014. The only other PCC athlete to win the 800 was Tracee van der Wyk in 2011.

In the 800 race, teammate Ashley Sosa surprised many in attendance by bolting to a lead with 200 meters left. Fields then made her push as she easily won the event in a time of 2:22.98. Sosa scored fifth in 2:26.55.

The Lancers scored 55 points (Mt. San Antonio won the team championship) and may have had more if not for two races where PCC’s racers were beaten at the finish line.

Fields led the 400 for most of the race, but it was Cerritos sprinter Deona Standifer catching her at the wire to take the conference title, 56.69 to Fields’ second-place 56.80.

In the 200, Jaylin Morgan was the favorite and was in the lead until a photo finish with Mt. SAC’s Leila Champion went the Mounties’ sprinter way as Morgan settled for second by just .01 at 24.66.

The 4×100 relay squad of Anaya Tryon, Morgan, Fields, and Ireja Lauderdale placed second in a time of 48.43. That’s the state’s ninth fastest time this season.

Fields has the state’s third fastest mark in the 800 at 2:17.55 performed at the Long Beach Invite in March. The freshman is also tied for third among California Community College racers in the 400 (56.17).

Morgan still holds the SoCal Region’s top time (third in state) in the 200 at 24.35 performed earlier this month at the Moorpark Invitational. Morgan is 10th in the 400 (57.83) and 22nd in the 100 (12.38). Sosa made the top 50 at #36 in the 800.

Other PCC scoring events at South Coast Finals:

Raiah Blackmon, 4th, discus, 115 feet; 7th, shot put, 33-6.5
Morgan, 5th, 100, 12.40
Tryon, 8th, 100, 12.57
4×400 relay (Sosa, Morgan, Fields, Tryon) 4th, 4:23.05

Coach Innocent Egbunike’s  Lancers will next participate in the SoCal Regional Prelims on Saturday, May 3 at Saddleback College.