Baer, Hollinger, Garcia Qualify For State Meet, Women's Track and Field Place 15th At SoCal

In the best showing by a Pasadena City College women's track and field team since 2014, the Lancers field athletes combined to score 20 points and finish a respectable 15th at the SoCal Championships held at Moorpark College on Friday.

Leading the way was Lily Baer, who placed second overall in the javelin with a season-best throw of 115 feet, 7 inches. PCC teammate Joelyne Garcia then launched her best throw of 111-3 to reach fourth place. 

Baer's placing is the highest by a Lancers women's athlete at the SoCal finals since 2-time, Paralympic gold medalist Breanna Clark won the 400 meters title at the 2014 regional meet. The last time a Lancer won a field event at SoCal was Essence Wyatt scoring first place in the triple jump in 2007. 

Bay Hollinger, a South Coast Conference champion this year, scored third place in the high jump with a leap of 5-2.25 (her best is 5-3).

Liz Ghazanchian's fine season came to an end but not before her eighth place scoring point in the discus as she threw a season-best of 122-9.

Hannah Collazo (12th in the shot put) and Crystal Ludwig (16th in the high jump) each also participated in the javelin throw with Collazo taking 20th and Ludwig 22nd. 

Because of top 4 SoCal meet performances in their region, Baer, Hollinger, and Garcia all qualified for the CCCAA State Championships meet next Friday-Saturday, May 20-21 at Mt. San Antonio College. 

School records are within reach for Hollinger and Baer. The PCC record for the high jump is 5-5 by Rene Smith back in 1984 while Megan Kessler holds the javelin record in 2000 at 121-8.

Hollinger has the best chance at a state title, but has stiff competition in SoCal champion Aailyah Mendoza of Mt. San Antonio, who reached 5-5 in winning the event yesterday. 

PCC is directed by head coach Innocent Egbunike and have benefited from the assistant coach tutelage by throws coach Michael Sanchez and long-time jumps coach Pat Williams. 

Bay Hollinger is tied for second among all high jumpers in the state

Joelyne Garcia qualified for the state meet in the javelin.