SRJC Track and Field sent two athletes to Chico State to compete in the 35th Annual Chico Multi-Event Classic.  The two day event pitted the top JC decathletes from Northern California against each other in an early season test.

 

Sophomore Waisea Jikoiono, competing in his first decathlon ever, started the event off with some solid numbers.  Jikoiono set personal records in the 100m (11.39), Shot Put (10.32m,33'10.25"), and the 400 (53.16) while also hitting respectable marks in the High Jump (1.94m, 6'4.25") and Long Jump (6.19m, 20'3").  Jikoiono finished Day 1 in second place with a point total of 3333pts.

 

Day 2 proved to be a mixed bag for Waisea.  The five event in the second day of the decathlon (110H, Discus, Pole Vault, Javelin, 1500m) were all new events for Jikoiono.  While all personal bests, Jikoiono will look to improve his Day 2 marks. Waisea finished the day in 6th place (4th JC athlete) with a point total of 5354pts (8th all time at SRJC).  This will automatically qualify him for the NorCal Championships held at De Anza on April 14th.

 

Returning from a redshirt year, sophomore Zack Nelson, completed his fourth decathlon.  Putting up 7 personal records out of 10 events Nelson eclipsed his mark of 4252pts from the 2018 edition of the Chico Multi Event Classic by nearly 1350pts.  Nelson's mark of 5600pts was good for 4th place overall and 3rd out of JC athletes.

 

Traditionally a Day 2 decathlete, Nelson made some big moves on the first day.  Nelson gained points that proved to be pivotal in the Long Jump, High Jump and the 400m.  After day one of the competition, Nelson was sitting in 5th with a point total of 2958pts.

 

Nelson pressed on, winning the opening event in Day 2, the 110H, with a time of 16.47 good for 681pts.  With a misstep in the discus, there was some pressure of Nelson in the final three events.  Zack went on to improve his personal best in all three events (Pole Vault, 3.25m (10'8"), Javelin, 47.47m (155'9") and the 1500, 5:03.94.    These marks were good for a final total of 5600pts (5th all time at SRJC) and another automatic qualifier for the NorCal Championships.

 

The Bear Cubs will return to action on March 6th at the Wildcat Cup at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo.