Cal Poly returned to Westwood this weekend for the second time in 2006 to compete in the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner Invitational, hosted by UCLA. The Mustangs were led by Aris Borjas, who won the men’s javelin event with a throw of 204-04; Willimena Cisco, who won the women’s 100 meter hurdles with a time of 14.20; and Adrian Ruark in the men’s pole vault, as the senior tied his personal best mark of 16-06.75 for the second time this year, leading him to a second place finish.
Borjas, a Fresno native who also competes on the Cal Poly football team, has not finished lower than third in any of the five meets he has participated in, while throwing javelin.
The first place finish is his third of the season, as the junior took first in the UCLA All-Comers meet on March 4 (207-01) and at the Cal Poly Invitational March 18 (204-00.25). Borjas’ personal best throw remains 210-03, a mark he reached March 25 at the Trojan Invitational held at USC. Borjas has already qualified for the NCAA Regional Championships May 26 at Provo, Utah as the qualifying mark is 202-1, a mark the junior has yet to throw under in 2006.
Cisco, the two-time defending Big West women's 100 hurdles champion won her second event of the season has the senior took first place at the Cal Poly Invitational March 18 (14.24). Cisco’s closest challenger at the invitational was Cal Poly's Danielle Ayers-Stamper (14.57), who was running unattached at the event.
Mustang men who set new personal best marks fall at the invitational included senior Randy Samuel in the 100, finishing second with a time of 11.05 and in the 200 finishing fifth clocking in at 22.30 as well as senior Jason Holmes in the 400m (49.75). Tom Phelps had a strong showing, competing in the 800 for the first time in 2006, finishing seventh in a field of 25 in a time of 1:54.38.
Freshman Whitney DeWeese had a stand out day in the women's shot put, as the Vista native was just shy of her personal best mark of 45-07.25(4/1), throwing for 44-09.50 at the invitational, which was good enough for third place overall. DeWeese also competed in the discus (119-00).
Sophomore Jhana Samuels finished sixth in the 400 hurdles and set a personal best mark in the process, clocking out at 1:04.46. Lindsay McManus nearly set a new best mark as well finishing in a time of 1:05.56, narrowly missing her best mark of 1:05.51.
Junior Nikki Chase set a new personal best mark in the 200m, eclipsing her old time of 26.05, with a time of 25.55 on Saturday. Amanda Thompson was at her best in the 200 as well setting a new best time of 26.02.