Hilton Leads Firestorm at Mesa Invite
Mesa, AZ- Sophomore Tanner Hilton had a big day at the Mesa Thunderbird Invitational on Friday as he set a school record in the 800 meters and ran the 1,500 meter distance for the first time in his career.
The sprinters were led by Freshman Joe Avance III who posted a time of 10.97 in his 100 meter race while flying 21’10.25″ in the long jump. Freshman Alec Hathcock completed his 100m race with an 11.48. Senior Justin Barnes doubled up with a season low 11.83 in the 100 and even 24.00 in the 200. Freshman Van Dion came in at 11.96 in the 100 while Freshman RJ Williams competed in a 200 meter race for the first time as a collegiate athlete with a time of 24.48. Dion produced a 20’0.25″ high jump.
Hilton highlighted the mid-range runs with his new school record of 1:59.56 in 800 meter race. Running the 1,500 meter distance for the first time Hilton put up a time of 4:15.93. Junior Karl Kleppe covered 400 meters in 1:03.19 while posting a 4:16.09 in his 1,500 meter run.
Kleppe (18.68) was joined by Sophomore Matt Castillo (16.07) in the 110 meter hurdles.
Barnes, Castillo, Hilton, and Kleppe combined for a 3:38.11 run in the 4×400 relay.
Junior Adrian Releford continues to hone his throwing of objects keyed by a new school record of 90’8″ in the hammer throw. In the shot put, he tossed the metal sphere 38’1.25″. His launch of the metal disc went 124’3″.
In the javelin, Junior Kendrick Murphy threw 136’3″. Sophomore Jordan Leary was not far behind with a 134’4″ throw.
On Thursday and Friday, the Firestorm will take on the rest of the GSAC at the GSAC Championships hosted by Westmont in Santa Barbara, CA.
