Track and Field Tops Competition in Butte Opener

Oroville, Calif. - Despite a damp, cold, and windy day, the Butte men's and women's track teams took top honors at the Butte Opener on Saturday.

The men's team topped Sacramento City, Delta, Yuba, and Shasta with 103 points, while the women's team scored 98.5 to edge Delta, Sacramento City, Shasta, and Yuba.

Sophomore Keegan Henry took the top honors in the 800 meters (2:01.85), while sophomores Matthew Garcia (16:06.12) and Michael Sides (16:06.33) nabbed the top two spots in the 5,000 meters.

The men's 4x100 meter relay team (Justin Pulfiser, Zach Valcarcel, Christian Vaughn, Alex Cardona) and the 4x400 meter relay team (Blake Suer, Henry, Jamie Marlin, Brandon Smith) both led the field.

And Smith wrapped up for the Roadrunners by taking first in the javelin with a throw of 43.47 meters.

On the women's side, freshmen Grace Becker (24:00.72) and Elizabeth Saldana (24:42.57) scored the top spots in the 5,000 meters, while sophomore Lydia Binger scored the top team score in the 110-meter hurdles (16:72), followed by freshman Sumarrah Bluett in 18:34. Binger (1:13.39) and Bluett (1:29.81) also were the top of the 400-meter intermediate hurdles leader board.

Sophomore Rielly Brannan, freshmen Kianna Ruffin and Zoe Knowles, and Binger won the 4x400 meter relay (4:27.95) to round out the top spots for the Roadrunners.

Butte continues competition on Saturday, Mar. 4 when it heads to Shasta College for the Cody Beaumont Invitational. The meet begins at 10 a.m.