West Coast Relays returns to Valley

Friday, April 1

Clovis, CA

Fresno State

West Coast Relays

Tickets

West Coast Relays returns to Valley

3/30/2022 11:18:00 AM | Track & Field

By: Josh Mitchell / Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State is set to host the 79^th edition of the West Coast Relays this week. With the hammer throw opening the meet on Thursday at Warmerdam Field, competition will move to Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis on Friday.

The West Coast Relays has been held for the bulk of the past 95 years. Last year marked the return of the meet after a 16-year hiatus. This year's event will feature athletes from 16 programs from four states across the west.

Thursday's hammer throw competition begins at 3 p.m. PT on Fresno State's campus. Friday's events begin at 10 a.m. in Clovis with the women's javelin and concludes with the men's 5000m invitational at 8:35 p.m.

Admission for Friday is $7 for adults and $5 for youth and seniors (65+). Purchasing tickets online ahead of the meet is encouraged.

Fresno State Outdoor Track & Field - Event #5
Event: West Coast Relays
Host: Fresno State
Date: March 31-April 1
Location: Fresno, Calif. (Warmerdam Field)/Clovis, Calif. (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
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FRESNO STATE ENTRIES AT CAL POLY INVITATIONAL
WOMEN – Haley Abirached, Kaja Bins, Nakyia Buckner, Hannah Chappell, Gianna Chiaramonte, Alexa Dandridge, Amelia DiPaola, Daylee Dunn, Rhiannon Genilla, Miana Giovannini, Shaylee Grimm, Emma Harper, De'ja Hudson, Morgan Hutchison, Madison Hutton, Cierra Jackson, Mia Jauregui, Sophie Jimenez, Morgan Johnson, Maria Lawson, Nadia Maffo, Cu-Nisha Mitchell, Taylor Nelson, Victoria Nino, Queen Okoh, Rachela Pace, Kaitlynn Perez, Ceonna Pipion, Daveion Robinson, Brianna Sproles, Antoinette Stubbfield, Agita Svetere, Tahj'nee Thurston, Jodeci Weems, Sabrina Welch, Trinity Williams

MEN – Benjamin Awad, Nathan Burd, Isaiah Calvin, Ronaldo Delgado, Austin Gillen, Miles Goff, Cameron Haynes, Sam Hawley, Austin Henschen, Meinkaikay Kaye, Dane Koesterer, Ahmad Kirkland, Michael McCabe, Garrett Ostrinski, Charles Remlinger, Mohamed Saleh, Julian Sotelo, Kolton Stonier, Joey Turner

STOP, HAMMER TIME
When Fresno State's hammer crew takes to the throwing ring, it's a must-see event. With its three top hammer throwers returning this season in Hannah Chappell, Amelia DiPaola and Tahj'nee Thurston, Fresno State's group got even stronger this year with the addition of Florida State transfer Nadia Maffo. In their first two meets together this season, the group has claimed the top four spots.

Fresno State is one of two schools in the in the country, along with Army, with three hammer throwers who own marks over 60 meters this year.
All four of the Bulldogs' top hammer thrower sit in the Top 35 in the West Region with Chappell leading the way in third at 62.17m/204-0 which ranks 12th.
The four account for half of the program's Top 8 all-time in the event.

ONE APPEARANCE, ONE ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Following her first appearance for the Bulldogs, Modesto JC transfer Rhiannon Genilla earned her first Mountain West Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week honor. At the time of her personal best mark of 48.20m/158-2 at the Kim Duyst Invitational, she ranked No. 1 in the NCAA.

Through four weeks she is 40th in the NCAA, 24th in the West and leads the Mountain West.
It was the Bulldogs' second Athlete of the Week honor in the last two seasons. Prior to 2021, Fresno State had not had one since 2016.

SPRINTING INTO THE SPRING
Sophomore sprinter Ceonna Pipion has been quick off the blocks to start the spring, winning her first event at the Hornet Invitational in her main event, the 400 meters with a 55.23. She then won the 200/400 double last week at the Cal Poly Invitational.

The sophomore sits fifth in the Mountain West in the 400 meters (55.23), seventh in the 200 meters (24.69) and eighth in the 100 meters (12.11).

FRESHMAN STRENGTH
Coming off a strong performance at the Mountain West Indoor Championships, that included a second-place finish in the weight throw and fourth in the shot put, Cierra Jackson has not let up in the spring. Competing in both the discus and shot put, the freshman ranks in the Top 6 in the conference in both, coming in at No. 4 in the shot put at 14.60m/41-11 and No. 6 in the discus at 47.95m/157-4.

Jackson is one of three athletes in the conference to rank in the Top 6 in both, along with Colorado State's Michaela Hawkins and Gabby McDonald.

TRIPLE X3
A year after Fresno State had three of the Mountain West's Top 10 triple jumpers, Fresno State once again has a trio in the Top 10 despite the graduation of two of its jumpers last spring. Freshman Rachela Pace leads the group at 11.91m/39-1 but Haley Abirached and Queen Okoh are within at least two inches of their teammate.

The three rank 8-9-10 on the conference's performance list.

BUILDING FROM HOME
Fifteen of Fresno State's 63 student-athletes are from Fresno and Clovis (23.8%).

Two local schools have more than two athletes in the program (Buchanan – 8, Edison – 2). Additionally, Bullard, Central, Central East, Clovis North and Clovis West each have one athlete on the Bulldogs' roster.

UP NEXT
Following West Coast Relays, the Bulldogs will take two weeks off before traveling to Southern California to split up between the Bryan Clay Invitational, Mt. SAC Relays and Beach Invitational on April 13-16.

"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley '' – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.

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