SRJC Men's Track and Field 2016 Season Preview

SRJC Men's Track and Field 2016 Season Preview

SRJC Men's Track and Field 2016 Season Preview

The 2015 season was a landmark year for SRJC Men's Track and Field. Finishing 3rd at conference, 6th in northern California, and at the State Championships, the team boasted its largest haul of medals in four years with seven. "It was a great season for us as a group," commented Head Coach David Wellman. "We made some noise last year, and a lot of people started to take notice." With a large number of incoming freshmen and a small returning class, the 2016 team will be a little younger than the previous year, but they will look to build a solid foundation for future success.

Freshmen to watch this season:

Jacob Campbell (Cape Girardeau Central High School, Missouri)– A running back for SRJC Football in the fall, Campbell is also a talented hurdler. Finishing 4th in the 2012 Class 4 Missouri State Championships, Campbell has posted two sub 15 time in his high school career with a wind aided (2.1) 14.77 and legal wind 14.82. Look for Campbell to have a breakout season posting some fast times.

Jalen Hemphill (Novato High School) – A standout hurdler for Novato High School, Hemphill has impressive PRs in the 110m Hurdles (14.42) and the 300m Hurdles (38.66). Qualifying for the 2014 California State Meet in the 300m Hurdles, Hemphill has the experience to compete at the highest level in Track and Field. Jalen will also be a part of an impressive 4x100m team that will look to repeat its 5th place finish at the JC State meet in 2015.

Kadeem Hemphill (Novato High School) – An impressive all around athlete, Kadeem Hemphill will compete in the 100m, 200m, Long Jump and 4x100. Hemphill is also a talented discus thrower, with a personal record of 148'1" with the 1.6kg disc. Kadeem will join his brother Jalen on the 4x100m team.

Brady Lane (El Molino High School) – Coming off an impressive Cross Country season, Lane will set his sights on the long distance races on the track. With high school PRs in the 1600 (4:32) and the 3200 (10:12) and Cross Country PRs of 22:50 for 4 miles and 27:15 for an 8k, Lane will try his luck at the 5k and 10k distances.

Justin Thurman (Santa Rosa High School) – Another Cross Country runner, Thurman will compete in the 800m, 1500m, and the Steeplechase. In his senior year at Santa Rosa High School, Thurman ran a 1:56 800m and a 42.08 300m Hurdles. With that speed and endurance, he will be a great candidate for the 3000m Steeplechase. Thurman participated in the first annual SR Twilight 2k Steeple last year and finished second with a time of 6:40.

Justin Zinnerman (Rancho Cotate High School) – 2014 NCS Champion in the High Jump, Zinnerman holds the Rancho Cotate School record with a jump of 6'9". Zinnerman has put together a great fall and will attempt to improve that mark this season. Also a great sprinter, Zinnerman will be a part of the 4x100m relay team.

The Men's Track Team will get underway this Thursday with the 31st annual Chico Multi Classic where Sophomore Kasey Mancini will compete in the Decathlon. The rest of the team will compete on Saturday at the De Anza Open in Cupertino.