Track and field finds success in Sacramento at the Mondo Invitational

The outdoor campaign continued for the track and field squad last weekend, as Portland State traveled to California to compete at the Mondo Mid-Major Challenge in Sacramento.

The women’s team placed fifth overall, while the men finished in eighth place. Six Vikings turned in qualifying times for the Big Sky Championships next month.

PSU’s sprinters had another solid outing, led by Geronne Black, who took second place in the 100-meter dash and qualified for the Big Sky meet in the 200-meter. Black has had no trouble finding motivation this year.

“This has been my best season ever,” Black said. “This is my last season, and everyone wants to go out [with] a bang. I want to be doing something great every weekend.”

After a string of tremendous performances, the senior has high expectations for the rest of the year. Black has her sights set on winning the 100-meter and 200-meter events at the Big Sky meet, but is also working toward qualifying for the national championships and earning a spot on the Trinidad and Tobago national team.

Senior Sierra Brooks also qualified in the 100-meter and 200-meter events. The success for the Vikings, who already hold the stadium record down in Sacramento, continued in the relay. This time, PSU came in second, with the team of Black, Brooks, Dominique Maloney and Jazmin Ratcliff clocking in at 46.03 seconds. Ratcliff also competed in the 100-meter hurdles, where she put up the best time in PSU history, and will head to the conference meet in that event.

Brittany Long will join her there after qualifying in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, while Montaisha Moore’s triple-jump performance ensured her a spot and Ali Super qualified in the javelin throw. For the men’s team, Tony Crisofulli and Rockwell Tufty qualified in the 800-meter and high jump, respectively.

The season continues this weekend in Eugene at the Oregon Relays, scheduled for April 19–20.