Newcomer Jumper Laughlin One Of 5 PCC Event Wins As Women’s Track And Field 2nd At Coast Classic

Five event victories were part of a strong performance for the Pasadena City College women’s track and field team as it placed second out of 12 scoring teams at the Coast Classic held March 13 hosted by Orange Coast College.

The Lancers scored 91 points only behind meet champ OCC with 156. Fellow South Coast Conference member East Los Angeles was third at 69 points.

Ireja Lauderdale won both the 100 and 200 meter sprints. She scored 12.39 seconds for the meet’s fastest time in the 100. Her 12.34 top mark performed in February at the Cerritos Open is eighth in the state rankings.

Her 200 victory was completed in a season-best 25.89, now 17th in state.

Quiana Laughlin made her season debut and captured first place in the high jump at 5 feet, 3 inches. The freshman from Burbank’s Burroughs High is tied for third in the state. Laughlin also placed second in the long jump (15-7).

Raiah Blackmon won the discus with a throw of 108 feet even and that put her 14th in the state.

Kezia Gavlak scored the 400 meter title with a time of 1:01.31. She is 19th in the state in the sprint and she already has high marks in the long jump (third in state) and triple jump (fourth).

Mia Belmonte scored second in the 800 meters with a season-best mark of 2:18.94, good enough for fourth ranked in the state.

Jariah Martin placed third in the 100 (13.17) and fourth in the 200 (27.51).

The 4×400 relay of Belmonte, Lauderdale, Nadia Mims, and Destiny Rayburn took third in a time of 4:27.40.

Coach Innocent Egbunike’s Lancers are next attending the San Diego Mesa Arnie Robinson Invitational on Friday, Mar. 20.