By Ana Rocha

CENTER
By Ana Rocha
The Riverside Community College track team is doing great this season and it can be seen in the results. Both the men and women are performing well . Women have been setting school records. Both men and women are in the Top 10 in conference performance under different events.All of the women had previously been on the cross country team and “It was the best cross country team in school history,” coach Mike Barbee said. “So we had very high expectations,” Barbee said.Four women made it to the Top 20 in the 5,000 meters at the Ben Brown Invite at Cal State Fullerton. Two sophomores, Karissa Holcomb and Laura Fairley, finished the race 13th and 14th, respectively, with times of 18:50.53 and 18:55.99. Also, two freshmen, Cristy Hoover and Amy Gilsen, finished 19th and 20th.”I am trying to push myself to do a little better,” Holcomb said. Fairley not only formed part of the Top-20 but she also set the school record on the weekend of March 18 by running the 10,000 meters in 39:42.2. This record was set at the Cal State Northridge Invitational. But the good performance also made her the leader in the conference. On the same Saturday, the good performances continued when Gilsen, Holcomb, Laura Moore and Natasha Montoya each ran a half a mile in the 3,200-meter relay setting another school record of 9:44.77. This relay not only broke the school record, but is now also the No. 2 time in the state this season. “We’re doing very well for ourselves,” Holcomb said.The 3,200-meter relay was not the only performance that Fairley would be a part of. She also ran 10,000 meters on a time of 39:44.20 and finished third March 18. Kim Avila also wanted to be part of the conference best and with her shot put and discus performances was able to. Her shot put was recorded No. 8 at the same Northridge Invitational with a mark of 39-6 1/2. She is also ranked fourth for the discus throw with a distance of 133-10. Her shot put marking is the best of the season so far.”I’m happy that I’m in the top ten,” Avila said. “But my goal is to be, honestly, the first person.”This is Avila’s first season and she is already highly ranked on the conference list. Avila is having good performances, she has “potential to get top five marks,” Barbee said. She could set “school records by before the end of next year, or even this year, she’s a good thrower,” Barbee said. Krystle Ruiz did not want to be left behind and marked a 10-2 1/4, putting herself as No. 8 in conference. The men are not falling behind this season. Jared Ware is No. 1 for the 200-meter sprint with a time of 21.24. The 400 meter was ran at 47.86 by Mario Hughley, putting him No. 1 as well. Hughley also ran the 800 meter sprint in 1:56.64 making it to No. 6 on the conference list. The men also had a wonderful weekend of March 18. The team composed of Ware, Terrance Whaley, David Johnson and Hughley had a time of 40.73 in the 4×100-meter relay, placing the Tigers at No. 2 for this performance. While Damien White, Johnson, Hughley and Brian Jones were No. 1 in the 4×400-meter relay. The Tigers had excellent performances all throughout the weekend whether at the Cal State Northridge Invitational or the Annual San Diego State Aztec Track and Field Classic the team was sure to show their presence. Their hard practices are constantly reflected in their performances. “Perfect practice makes perfect, not just practice,” Barbee said. “Distance runners only get three weeks break, its 12 months out of the year for them,” Barbee said.