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The setting for this week’s CCAA Track and Field Championships takes place in one of the country’s most exclusive beach communities. But the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos aren’t about to take in the sights and sounds of La Jolla. The objective is about competing for conference titles and bettering individuals’ efforts toward a place in the NCAA Championships.
The CCAA Championships begin Thursday with the opening day of the decathlon and heptathlon and wrap-up Saturday evening with the end-all 4 x 400-meter relays.
Third-year coach Troy Johnson brings in a tested group that looks to earn a top spot in the team races and gain qualifiers for the NCAA Championships, held in Charlotte, N.C., on May 27-20.
Here is a look at the Broncos’ teams with quotes from Johnson on key Bronco competitors.
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Senior Jonathan Williams (100/200/long jump/4 x 100) Last year’s CCAA Athlete of the Meet and All-American in the 100 looks to make that achievement a two-year honor. He owns NCAA provisional times in both the 100 (10.59) and 200 (21.30), but needs to improve those times to reach Charlotte.
Johnson on Williams: “Jonathan’s on the outside looking in, so he knows the challenge that’s in front of him. He’s been in plenty of big meets in his time at Cal Poly Pomona. He’s a senior and there aren’t many more opportunities for him to lay it on the line.’’
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Junior Carter Griffin(400/200/relays) The Anaheim junior has improved his personal best in the 400 (47.44) and also owns a PR of 21.43 in the 200. He is the defending CCAA champ in the 400 (48.81) and also ran a leg on the winning 4 x 400 relay.
Johnson on Griffin: “Carter’s the hardest worker on the team and his teammates would agree. “He gets it done on the track and in the classroom. He’s a potential Athlete of the Meet performer. He leads by doing and had a sizeable breakthrough of a half of a second in the 200. We look to see if he can have a sizable drop in the 400, too.
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Sophomore Jacob Deavers (110 hurdles/400 hurdles/relays) He owns a provisional time of 53.33 in the 400 hurdles that ranks 9th all-time at CPP. He’s just .03 seconds off a provisional in the 110s and runs the anchor leg on the 4 x 100.
Johnson on Deavers: “Jake learned a lot last year and has improved considerably this season. He’s becoming a complete athlete. Jake’s a high caliber performer and person who wants to improve those times to reach Charlotte.’’
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Junior Jose Marquez (3,000-meter steeplechase): One of the pleasant surprises on the men’s team, who earned a provisional time (9:24.59) in the steeple.
Johnson on Marquez: “Jose stepped it up this spring and I think he’s capable of going 9:15. Jose’s a guy who had a solid cross country season and backed it up with a very good spring.’’
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Senior Michael Hernandez (decathlon/4 x 100 relay) One of the top decathletes in the country, who finished 9th at last year’s NCAA meet. Only 5-10, he owns a 15-1 best in the pole vault and 6-7 in the high jump.
Johnson on Hernandez: “Mike’s been around the sport as much as anyone on our team. He’s using this week as a training meet for the NCAAs. He’s so versatile and will help us on the 4 x 100. He’s another one of our seniors who knows his career is coming to an end. He’ll be ready to go.’’
Among other Broncos who figure to be in the mix are senior pole vaulter
Andrew Miller, decathlete and hurdler
Neil Macrorie, junior sprinter
Corey Arnold, freshman
Matt Boudreau, sophomore
Jorge Garcia (400-meter runners) and junior distance ace
Matthew Prentice.
“Each of those guys has an opportunity to pick up points and help us,’’ Johnson said. “Andrew’s had a solid first year and we’ll need points out of him. Neil’s got a challenge as right after he finishes the 1500 in the decathlon, he’ll run the 110 preliminaries.
“Corey’s had some injury issues and we’ll need him to be strong in the 400 and the 4 x 400. Matthew has had a solid first year for us and I’d love to see Jorge break 50 in the 400. Matthew Prentice is so competitive, you know he’ll give us everything he has.’’
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Sophomore Tramieka Thomas (100 hurdles, long jump, triple jump, 4 x 100 relay) One of two Broncos who have earned an NCAA provisional standard (14.54 100 hurdles), the Ontario native placed second in last year’s CCAA triple jump (37-11 ¼).
About Tramieka: “Tramieka has above average talent and we’re looking for her to bring it up to national ability. She’s a gifted athlete with loads of talent. She’ll have a busy meet, but she’s more than up to the task.’’
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Senior Tokunbo Adeniji (200, 400, Relays) A two-time NCAA qualifier in the 400, she has finished second in the 400 in the last two CCAA meets. She improved her personal best in the 400 to 55.33 this spring.
About Tokunbo: “She’s a leader who’s performed well at the CCAA in her career. She wants to go out in style and she has the ability to drop her time in the 400.
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Senior Amanda Smith (heptathlon) A provisional qualifier in heptathlon a year ago, she has competed in one multi-event this season earning 4,309 points at Cal State Northridge.
About Amanda: “Amanda’s going to have a good meet. She’ll bump into that provisional mark and give us team points.’’
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Senior Amber Hebb (1,500) A two-time All-CCAA performer in cross country, Hebb has been solid in the 1500 this season, falling just shy of the NCAA provisional 4:38.00 with a 4:40.36 at USC.
About Amber: “Amber has loads of potential and we’d love to see her run a sub-4:40 this week. Her confidence is strong.’’
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Senior Ileana Tejada (weights) The school-record holder in the hammer throw, she owns a season-best 162-4 in the event, just one inch shy of the provisional mark.
About Ileana: “Ileana’s improved over the last few weeks. She wants to prove to herself that she can compete at the national level.
Sophomore
Kyle Wolff figures to be a contender in the 800. “If Kyle runs her PR (2:14), she’ll win the event,’’ Johnson said.
Freshmen
Brooke Gamble (100 – 12.71, 200 – 25.17) and
Ariel Whitney (100 -- 12.97, 200 – 26.11) will compete in both relays and will have their first shot at CCAA recognition.
NCAA Provisional Qualifiers (as of May 4, 2010)
Tokunbo Adeniji (400)
Jake Deavers (400 hurdles)
Carter Griffin (200, 400)
Michael Hernandez (decathlon)
Jose Marquez (3,000-meter steeplechase)
Tramieka Thomas (100 hurdles)
Jonathan Williams (100, 200)