MacKay’s Three State Titles a First

Lucais MacKay is attending Moorpark College for one year, using the school as the staging area for the rest of his life.

But as long as he’s there, he might as well make some history.

MacKay became the first man to win state titles in three field events in the California Community College Track and Field Championships on Saturday at American River College.

MacKay, a sophomore, won the hammer throw with a mark of 203 feet, seven inches--just one inch shy of the meet record. An hour later, he won the shotput at 57-2, then capped his performance by winning the discus throw with a mark of 177-2.

He accounted for 30 of Moorpark’s 33 points, good for an eighth-place finish. Mt. San Antonio finished with 78 points to win the team title.

In the women’s meet, Shelaine Larson of Moorpark won the discus with a throw of 144 feet. Kim Lorimer of Glendale pulled away to claim victory in the 3,000 meters at 10:33.03, following a third-place finish in the 5,000 at 18:56.49.

Mt. SAC won the women’s title with 105.5 points. San Francisco City was second with 65.33, Moorpark third with 58.5 and Glendale 12th with 19.

MacKay, from Hughson, Calif., attended USC in 1999 on a football scholarship, but not before being granted permission to be excused from spring practice to concentrate on track.

MacKay was competing for the USC track team in spring 2000 when the football coaching staff requested he attend spring practice.

“Coach [Paul] Hackett knew where my heart and head were, so we had a talk on the field one day and it got a little heated,” said MacKay, an offensive lineman. “He knew my heart wasn’t in football, so he told me to go back to track. I thanked him and walked off the field.”

MacKay transferred to Moorpark, where his father, Bob, was in his second year as an assistant football and track coach. He said he plans to transfer next spring to a four-year college and compete exclusively in track and field.

Moorpark distance runner Jody Hay completed an impressive first season of track competition with a second-place finish in the 5,000 (18:33.49) and a fifth-place finish in the 3,000 (10:56.89).

Hay won the 10,000 meters on Friday.

Jeanene Gerry of Moorpark finished eighth in the 5,000 at 19:59.03.

One of the oldest records in the state championships fell when Josh Norman of Fresno City clocked 10.17 in the 100 meters. The previous mark of 10.18 was set by Santa Monica’s Houston McTear in 1977.