Che, Schwantner Strong 800 Runs For PCC Men's Track and Field

Sophomore Dylan Che placed second overall and fellow letterman Colin Schwantner won his heat and was third in the 800 meters races to highlight the Pasadena City College men's track and field team's performance at the Bakersfield Battle of the Regions Meet held Feb. 8.

Che ran in the opening heat and his 2:04.41 time placed him behind only host Bakersfield runner Adrian Lopez, who won the 800 at 1:57.55. Schwanter had the best time in the second heat out of 10 racers and his 2:05.51 mark was good enough to reach third overall. 

Che was sixth in the 1,500 (4:17.16). Freshman Asher Smith (Pasadena High) placed third in the 100 meter sprint with a 11.36 seconds time. Smith later won his heat in the 200, but settled for ninth overall at 23.48. 

In other events, freshman Giovanni Guajardo (Temple City HS) was seventh in the 3,000 meters (9:40.27), rookie Bryan Huang (Arcadia) 13th in the 400 meters (54.27) and sophomore Izaq Davolt took 15th in the 800 (2:13.49). In the 4x400 relay, the Lancers were seventh in a modest 3:52 flat with runners Uri Mafate (sophomore), Huang, Justin Campbell (freshman, Rosemead), and Andrew Villa (sophomore).

At the 2019 season-opening El Camino All-Comers Meet on Feb. 1, Smith won his heat and was third overall in the 60-meter dash at 7.40 seconds. Huang, sixth, and Villa, seventh, both came at 7.73. Smith was fourth in the 200 (23.67) and Huang ninth at 24.14. Che placed ninth in the 3,000 (9:38.98). The 4x400 relay squad of sophomore Thor Abiva, letterman Lorenzo Hernandez, Huang and Smith raced fifth at 3:45.21.

In the specialized 4,000 distance medley, Che, Schwantner, Davolt and Guajardo took third at 11:27.30.

PCC had no partiicipants in either meet in field events.

Coach Innocent Egbunike's Lancers will next be in action on Friday, Feb. 22 at the Cerritos College Open.