Thiel Helps Moorpark Take Best Shot at Title

Sophomore Amy Thiel completed a sweep of the women’s throwing events to lead the Moorpark College women’s team to a second-place finish in the community college track and field state championships Saturday at Bakersfield College.

Thiel won the shotput and discus despite aggravating a right ankle sprain suffered playing basketball in January. She won the hammer throw on Friday.

Thiel won the discus with a throw of 157 feet 8 inches, nearly seven feet farther than runner-up Amanda Harvey of Bakersfield.

Thiel’s mark of 184-10 in the hammer throw was two inches short of the national record set two weeks ago by teammate Angela Foster.

“I can’t say which event I like the most,” Thiel said. “I enjoy all of them. I’m glad I won the discus, but I didn’t throw my best.”

Her best discus mark is 166-1.

Thiel put the shot 49 feet and Foster was second at 44-10.

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Melissa McBain of Moorpark won the women’s 1,500-meter race in 4:40.43, almost nine seconds faster than runner up Jenny Wood of Mt. San Antonio (4:49.07). Geanene Gerry of Moorpark was fourth in the women’s 5,000 meters (19:32.62) and Nancy Lopez of Glendale was sixth in 19:56.23.

Jorge Banuelos of Glendale (9:55.37) beat Jose Mangana of Orange Coast (9:55.43) at the finish line to take fourth place in the men’s 3,000 steeplechase.

Sophomore Aaron Thompson of Canyons was seventh in the decathlon with 6,116 points. He had career bests in seven events, including four of five Saturday.

“It’s not as important to win every event as it is to be consistent throughout the whole competition,” Thompson said. “You can come in second or third every time and still win. I wanted to finish in the top five, but I did better in everything [Saturday] except the 1,500 meters, so I can’t complain. It was extremely hot and the conditions do take a toll if you let them.”

Mt. San Antonio won the men’s title with 125 points and the women’s with 112. Moorpark’s women held the lead through 11 events before settling for second with 70 points, 11 ahead of third-place Orange Coast.

Zoila Gomez of Orange Coast completed a sweep of the women’s distance events. After winning the 10,000 meters Friday, she won the 5,000 in 18:29.30 and the 3,000 in 10:34.76 on Saturday.

Moorpark’s men’s 1,600 relay team finished sixth in 3:14.40.