Pasadena City College’s Chu Finishes 10th In SoCal Track and Field Decathlon

Rarely has a Pasadena City College athlete competed in the grueling decathlon in men’s track and field. But this year, Lancer freshman Kevin Chu showed his athletic versatility and performed in the SoCal Decathlon Championships April 5-6 at Cerritos College.

While he finished 10th and did not qualify for the CCCAA State Championships (only top six go from the South), Chu did impress by scoring 4,475 points and was one of just nine of the 14 athletes who competed that scored in all 10 events.

Chu’s best event was the high jump as he was second among decathletes at a leap of 5-feet, 10.5 inches. He also was fourth in the pole vault at 12-2.5. Chu (from Arroyo High) also competed in the 100-meter, 400-meter, and 1,500-meter races, 110 high hurdles, long jump, shot put, discus, and javelin.

“The fact that Kevin would even attempt a difficult challenge like the decathlon says a lot about his drive as an athlete,” said PCC T/F interim head coach Bobby Godinez. “His strength is his jumps and that helped his score. Few before him have tried it here, so it’s a big deal that he completed all the events.”

Members of the PCC men’s and women’s track and field teams competed at the Cerritos Invitational on April 8-9.

Women’s distance runner Edna Bailon won the “overflow race” in the 5,000 meters in 19 minutes, 51.97 seconds. Teammate Franceska Millanponce raced in the finals and was sixth in that race at 20:09.53. Bailon had the sixth fastest time overall.

Veronica Mejia was third in the first heat of the 1,500 meters at 5:11.41 and her time was eighth overall among community college racers out of the three heats.

In the men’s events, Stewart McKenzie placed fifth in the long jump at 21-11.75 and was sixth in the triple jump (45-4). Jose Mota won the third heat out of four in the 800 meters at 2:02.67 (15th overall). Roman Gallo was third in his heat at 60.32 in the 400 hurdles and sixth overall.

McKenzie has the state’s 20th best mark in the triple jump at 45-5.25.

The Lancers teams are next in action at the South Coast Conference Prelims Meet on Tuesday, April 19 at Long Beach City College.