Allen's win highlights OEC Meet prelims
FULLERTON -- Leanne Allen topped the field in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to highlight the Orange Coast College women's track and field team's performance at the Orange Empire Conference Prelims on Friday at Fullerton College.
While most of Friday's events were just prelims, there were several finals that took place, including the aforementioned steeplechase event, won by Allen with an OEC championship time of 11 minutes, 55.4 seconds, a full 40 seconds faster than Santa Ana's Jazmin Avilia's runner-up time of 12:36.07.
With the top six finishes in the finals events earning a spot to the Southern California Regional Meet, Coast had several earn those prestigious spots.
In the long jump, it was a 2-3 finish for the Pirates, led by Nikki Puerner's jump of 17 feet, 3 1/2 inches, followed by teammate Sabrina Howe's mark of 17-2.
In the 10,000, a pair of Pirates cracked the top-six and they were Guadalupe Cantoran (4th, 39:38.17) and Karen Silvas (5th, 40:08.17).
Shot put standout Morgan Johnson finished fifth to qualify for SoCals with a mark of 34-9.
In the pole vault, Domenica Velasco finished sixth with a qualifying mark of 7-1/2.
The conclusion of the OEC Championships will take place on Friday at Fullerton College, beginning at 10 a.m. The 2014 Southern California Regional Meet will begin on May 9 at Riverside City College.
