Orange Coast College

Pirates inching closer to OEC Championships

Friday, April 13, 2007

COSTA MESA - With just two weeks to go before the Orange Empire Conference Track and Field Championships, several runners, throwers and jumpers are still looking for that peak winning groove.

Brandon Babiracki is already there.

The standout distance runner for Orange Coast College posted three impressive victories in the 800-, 1,500- and 3,000-meter runs at Friday's tri-meet with Fullerton and Riverside.

Babiracki started his successful day with the 1,500, where he crossed the tape with a winning time of 4 minutes, 2.15 seconds, edging Riverside's Kyle Ramirez (4:04.33) and OCC's Jesse Ramirez (4:06.92).

From there, the sophomore placed first in the 800 with a time of 1:55.07. Fullerton's Roman Pena came in second with a 1:56.28.

And finally, Babiracki found enough gas in the tank for an impressive final-lap comeback to win the 3,000 with a time of 8:48.25.

Power thrower Keneti Faagata showed his muscle in the shot put with a winning throw of 46 feet, 11 inches. He also finished second in the hammer throw with a mark of 121-6 and second in the discus with a 150-2.

Teammate Andres Rossini took first in the discus (163-6) and third in the hammer (116-9).

It was a 1-2 finish in the pole vault for the Pirate twosome of Kyle Peterson (14-6) and Trevor Schuesler (14-0).

Other top-three finishes for the Pirate men include George Prior in the shot put (third, 40-5 1/2) and javelin (third, 175-8), Scott Burbach in the javelin (second, 180-3), Kyle Peterson in the 110 high hurdles (second, 16.46), Justin Parga in the 400 (third, 50.29), Josh Strickland in the 100 (third, 11.32), Chris Pfeifer in the 400 hurdles (second, 56.97), the 400 relay (second, 42.66) and the 1,600 relay (second, 3:19.25).

The Coast men defeated Fullerton 113.5-28.5 and lost to Riverside 90-55.

On the women's side, Hester Chang again broke her own record in the hammer throw with a mark of 149-2. It's the third time this year that Chang has set the new best mark in the event.

Standout hurdler Brenda Finney took home two first-place times in the 100 hurdles (16.21) and the 400 hurdles (1:08.76).

Jade Leblanc was the lone participant to clear 10 feet in the pole vault, while teammate Brittany Ickes continued her impressive stint in the javelin throw with a winning toss of 106-6.

Distance runner Kristin Glen showed a nice 1-2-3 punch as she finished first in the 1,500 (5:02.11), second in the 3,000 (11:17.7) and third in the 800 (2:29.28).

Other top-three finishes for the OCC women were Melinda Rackliffe in the 1,500 (third, 5:17), the 400 relay (third, 52.17) and the 1,600 relay (second, 4:14.09).

Next up for the Pirates will be the Orange Empire Conference Championships, which will take place on April 27-28 at Santa Ana College, beginning at 11 a.m.