Behind two jump champions, the Pasadena City College women's track and field team scored 66.5 points, the most in 13 years, and placed fourth at the South Coast Conference Prelims/Championships held April 21 and on Saturday (April 25) at El Camino College.
It was the second straight year that PCC placed fourth after scoring 55 last season. In 2013, the Lancers featured Omhunique Browne, a double state champion in the 100 and 200-meter dashes, and the team scored 76 overall to place third. That remains the highest placing and points finish by a Lancers team in their South Coast history going back to 1987.
Destiny Rayburn became the first Lancer to ever win the SCC long jump title as her 18 feet, 1.5 inches on her final attempt was just enough to defeat Mt. San Antonio's Illicia Ross at 18-1. Kezia Gavlak scored third with a final attempt of 17-8.25 and Quiana Laughlin was sixth at 16-8.75. The PCC school record in the LJ was set all the way back in 1984 by Darlene Pennie at 19-1.5. PCC scored 19 of their team points in this event alone.
Going into the SCC meet, Laughlin held the state's seventh best jump this year at 18-5.25 and Gavlak's 18-2.5 was 11th. Rayburn, a Blair High graduate, just happened to pick the right day for her season best, now 12th longest in California leap. An accomplished CIF Southern Section jumper, she posted an 18-3.25 at the prep level.
Rayburn joined the winner's club also occupied by Gavlak from her win in the triple jump from Tuesday.
Ireja Lauderdale settled for second in the 100 meters at 12.26 seconds behind winner Jody Colbert Jr. of Mt. SAC in 12.18. Lauderdale holds a season-best of 12.01 (eighth in the state) while Colbert's best was 11.97 (sixth).
Other scorers for PCC were:
- Laughlin, a tie for third in the high jump at 4-11 (her best is 5-3, tied for fifth in state)
- The 4x100 relay third at 48.27 behind Gavlak, Rayburn, Jariah Martin and Lauderdale (their best a state #5 47.94)
- Raiah Blackmon fourth in the discus throw at 118-2 (her best is 123.5, 13th in state)
- Rayburn sixth in the 200 at 26.09
- Graciela Franquez seventh in the 1,500 at 5:52.23
- Nadia Mims eighth in the 400 at 1:09.96
Camila Gonzalez just missed grabbing a point in the 5,000 in placing ninth (20:02.31). She scored fifth in the 10,000 in the earlier Prelims.
Coach Innocent Egbunike's Lancers will next take part in the Southern California Prelims to be held Saturday, May 2 at Bakersfield College. The SoCal Championships follow on May 9, also at Bakersfield.
Lauderdale in the 100
