By Michael Meraz

RCC student Jillian Harris ended the track meet with a 8-6 pole vault record. (Rebekah Elliot)

By Michael Meraz

Matt Jones of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars can make circus catches in traffic, run the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, and throw the ball 60 yards downfield, but I bet he can’t clear 13-6 in the pole vault.

Matt Jones of the Riverside City College track team can.

In an eight-team track meet hosted by the Tigers on March 23, Jones tied his personal record and helped the Tigers dominate the other teams at Wheelock Field. Jones was encouraged by coaches and teammates alike to reach his goal of 14 feet.

Even though he had tied his personal record and helped the Tigers take the top spot in the men’s pole vault for the day, he was humble.

“I’m happy with what I did today,” Jones said. “I wanted to come out and tie my (personal record) today and I did that. God really blessed me with helping me achieve my goal.”

However, the RCC women’s team did not have the same success in the pole vault event as did the men’s.

The women’s highest vault was 8-6 by first-year competitor Jillian Harris. With a personal record of 9-6, Harris seemed a little disappointed with the team’s performance, and her own, and blamed a good deal of it on the weather.

“It wasn’t our best day out. The wind was kind of an issue, switching from a cross wind to a tail wind. It really does affect your step,” Harris said.

In the track events, the women’s team was led by Moriah Jubrey, who won the women’s 100-meter dash with a time of 12.45 seconds.

In the 200, Sharayza Jackson placed third with a time of 26.35, and Kelley Ford placed fourth in the 3,000 at 11:08.32.

The men’s most valuable player may have been Andre Ewell, who had success in all four of his events.

He ran for his personal record in the 200 with a time of 21.65, earning him the fifth best time in the state this season.

Ewell also won the 100 with a time of 10.76, the best 100 time in the conference.

Not only did Ewell smoke his opponents in the 100 and 200, but he also anchored each of the Tigers’ winning 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams.

When asked how he felt about his team’s finishing time of 42.06, Ewell was disappointed.

“Bad! Horrible!” Ewell said. “Once we work out all of our handicaps, I guarantee you we will be under 42 (seconds) at the end of the season.”