College Update: Burbank’s Hurtado earns discus title
The following are updates on area athletes at the collegiate level.
Andy Hurtado (Burbank High, 2014) Azusa Pacific track and field junior: The former Pacific League discus champion added a new title with the Cougars.
Hurtado captured the PacWest Conference championship in the discus with a career-best throw of 164 feet, 10 inches (50.25 meters) on April 28 at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego.
Hurtado crushed the competition as teammate James Jones finished second in 146-1 as the Azusa Pacific men and women captured conference team titles.
It was at the Occidental Invitational on May 6 where Hurtado showed his effort was no fluke as the junior finished third in the discus with a toss of 164-8 (50.20 meters). Hurtado, however, fell just short of qualifying to the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships.
Hurtado first went over 50 meters when the junior hit 50.17 at the UC San Diego Triton Invitational on April 22.
Previously, Hurtado finished second in the discus (162-11, 49.67 meters) at the California Collegiate Invitational in San Diego on April 1.
Hurtado is part of a trio of ex-Bulldogs on the Azusa Pacific squad that includes freshmen Joshua Cantong and Martin Swan Jr.
Cantong finished the year strong by setting a personal record in the 800-meter run in a time of 1 minute, 53.88 seconds to take 20th at the Occidental Invitational.
Sarah Prystupa (Burroughs High, 2016) Biola University track and field freshman: It’s hard to argue that the reigning track and field athlete of the year didn’t have a productive first year in La Mirada.
Though only a freshman, Prystupa advanced to the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores, Ala. on May 25.
There, the Burbank resident finished 14th in the pole vault with a height of 11-9 3/4 (3.60 meters) and just missed All-American consideration.
Prystupa earned a bid to the NAIA Championships by hitting the qualifying mark of 3.60 meters in taking seventh place at the Occidental Invitational on May 7.
Prior to the NAIA Championships, perhaps Prystupa’s next biggest meet was the Golden State Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships at Westmont College in Santa Barbara on April 28.
There, Prystupa finished third with a mark of 10-11 3/4 (3.35 meters), tying her with Westmont’s Dana Bowers (took second due to attempts) while she only trailed Westmont’s Chena Underill (11-5 3/4, 3.50 meters).
Kate Wilke (Burroughs High, 2016) St. Francis University water polo freshman: Though the season has long concluded, the awards are still rolling in for the former All-Area player.
On June 16, Wilke was named to the Collegiate Water Polo Assn. Women’s Varsity Scholar-Athlete Team for her academic prowess.
Wilke was recogizned as a “superior” student as she boasted a grade-point average between the 3.41-3.70 threshold for such a designation. Wilke was one of 10 St. Francis water polo players to earn such acclaim.
In the pool, Wilke also made quite a splash as the freshman earned the starting goalie position.
On Feb. 22, Wilke was recognized as the Collegiate Water Polo Assn. defensive player of the week for an effort that included 57 saves over five matches with four double-digit stop efforts.
The Flash finished 11-22 this season with Wilke making all 33 starts for St. Francis.
The freshman tallied a 10.81 goals-against average and finished with 273 total saves.
Averie-Alice Guzman (Bellarmine-Jefferson High, 2012) Cal State Los Angeles track and field junior: The former Santa Cruz League champion in basketball has done well in her junior season with the Golden Eagles.
Guzman capped her season by taking 24th in the discus with a throw of 89-4 at the CCAA Championships at Chico State on May 6.
Perhaps Guzman’s full potential as a thrower was on display on April 22 at the UC Riverside Highlanders Challenge.
There, she placed third in the javelin (76-6), seventh in the discus (111-5) and eighth in the shot put (30-6).
Guzman also placed 15th in the shot put (30-5 1/4) at the Cal State LA Twilight Open on April 13.
