Moorpark Puts Positive Spin on the First Day

Amy Thiel and Angela Foster of Moorpark College finished first and second in the discus and teammate Jeanene Gerry placed fourth in the 10,000 meters to propel the Raider women to a first-place total of 23 points on the opening day of the state junior college track and field championships at Bakersfield College on Friday.

Thiel, a transfer from Colorado State, threw a career best of 184-10 to narrowly miss the national junior college record of 185-0 set by Foster in the Southern California championships on May 6.

Foster, who has signed with Purdue, threw 175-11.

“We had a good day,” Foster said. “We competed against some great throwers and did well. We’re very happy.”

Gerry clocked 39:41 in the 10,000.

All three women will compete again today.

Thiel, the Southern California champion in the shotput and discus, will compete in those events. Foster will put the shot and Gerry will run the 5,000.

Big Sky Conference Championships--Junior LaShaunda Fowler won the women’s long jump and freshman Carol Stevenson won the hammer throw for Cal State Northridge, but the Matadors suffered a big blow when Frances Santin, the 400 hurdles favorite, was disqualified for a trail-leg violation after winning her qualifying heat in the meet at Cal State Sacramento.

Montana State is in first place with 49 points entering the final 15 women’s events today.

Weber State is in second with 44, followed by Northern Arizona and defending champion Northridge with 30.

Fowler went from sixth to first place on her final attempt in the long jump when she improved from 18-8 to 19-10 1/4.

She knocked freshman teammate Dee Scott, who leaped 19-7 3/4, out of first, but their 1-2 finish gave Northridge 18 points.

The Matadors got 10 points when Stevenson won the hammer throw at 178-10 and two when sophomore Mary Alessi finished seventh in the javelin in 110-5.

The Matadors won six qualifying heats as Fowler ran 11.83 in the 100 and 13.83 in the 100 high hurdles, junior Annetta Wells clocked 23.58 in the 200 and 55.33 in the 400, and senior Nancy James timed 2:12.03 in the 800.

Senior Brandi Prieto moved up to first in her heat of the 400 hurdles after Santin was disqualified.

The Northridge men were in eighth place with six points.