Pasadena City College Track and Field’s Chu, McKenzie Win Jumps At Santa Barbara City College Easter Relays

Kevin Chu matched the fourth best mark in the state this year to win the high jump event and teammate Stewart McKenzie recorded first place finishes in the triple jump and long jump in a standout performance by the Pasadena City College men’s track and field team Friday at the Santa Barbara Easter Relays meet.

The three event wins marked the first time that PCC athletes recorded top finishes in a meet this season under interim head coach Bobby Godinez. Chu made a leap of 6-feet, 8-inches and beat his previous ’16 best by 10 inches. From Arroyo High, the freshman Chu won the event by a 2-inch margin over his nearest competitors.

McKenzie, a sophomore transfer from the University of La Verne, impressed with a 45-5.25 leap to capture the triple jump victory. That season-best jump moved him to 12th in the state in the event. McKenzie also won the long jump with a 21-11 leap but that did not match his season best performed earlier this year at 22-1.

Ramon Gallo took seventh in the 400-meter hurdles, but cracked the state top 50 at No. 46 with a time of 60.15 seconds. Alexis Arevalo also made the state top 50 listing with his 11:13.43 time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. He placed fifth.

PCC WOMEN AT SBCC EASTER RELAYS

The 4×400 meter relay squad of Veronica Mejia, Joanna Anaya, Denise Peterson and Keana Ramirez-Acosta placed fifth with a season-best time of 4:24.80 allowing the Lancers women to reach No. 26 in the state listings.

Franceska Millanponce grabbed fourth in the 5,000 meters at 20:15.55 while Mejia was fifth in the 1,500 (5:18.25).