Tigers Compete at Rossi Relays

CLAREMONT, Calif. (Feb. 23, 2008) – Tigers took the track at the Rossi Relay’s today on the campus of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps marking the first meet of the spring for the Oxy distance runners while other Tiger track and field members continued competition in 2008.

The Occidental men’s team entered three Distance Medley Relay Teams today. The A team almost managed to roll back the years to the glory days of Oxy Track and Field as they came in a close second to USC. The team was led off by Alex Ramon, a senior and two-time All-American, who scorched his 1200m leg in 3:06 (splits were 64, 61, 61). Ramon handed the baton over a good 10m in front of USC's team who managed to make up the deficit on the next leg - a 400m. By the time Oxy's anchor leg, senior Kevin Chaves, started out on his 1600m leg, USC had opened up a good 15 second advantage. Chaves, however, managed to close the gap on his way to a 4:17 split (a new PR). The final times were USC 10:18.91, Oxy 10:25.06.

On the women's side, sophomore Grace Peck also produced a life time best performance, anchoring the women's DMR in a new 1600m PR of 5:20.

Other notable performances on the track included senior Ryan Bowen's split of 51.6 in the men's 4 by 400m relay during only his second meet as a 400m runner. Sophomore Jon Wheeler also ran well as he turned in a pair of 2:01 performances in the 800m. The first came on the men's DMR and the second two hours later on the Sprint Medley Relay.

In the field, sophomore Sara Hooker continued to improve as she increased her seasonal best performances in both the triple jump and pole vault to 33'02" and 9'7", respectively. Junior Patty Armentrout appears to be starting to come into form in the women's long jump as she cleared over 15' for the first time this year. Last season she set her lifetime best at a little over 16'. Senior Kaja Martin is also returning to form after missing last season studying abroad. She threw a respectable 108'07" in the javelin in her first meet in 2008.

For the men, first year team member Dallon Stang looks to be adjusting well to the heavier college discus. Stang launched the discus out to a new best mark of 139'09".

Occidental will return to Claremont, Calif. on Saturday, March 1 for the first SCIAC meet of the season. The SCIAC Invitational will be hosted by Pomona-Pitzer Colleges with events beginning at 10:30 a.m.