Aceves Ranks First Nationally

The Mt. San Antonio College Relays, one of the largest meets nationally, has an East Los Angeles College champion that entered the record books, one nationally.

ELAC All-American sophomore Laura Aceves won the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Relays on Saturday April 9 running to three records.

Aceves ran to a new community college Hilmer Lodge Stadium record, a new community college Relays meet record, and a personal best time that is the fastest time in the nation.

She is the defending CCCAA state champion in the steeplechase.

Aceves will compete in the 10,000-meter run at the Relays on Thursday, April 15 at 11:15 p.m. Only the top two or three from the community college division are eligible to compete the meet along with open athletes.

Aceves hopes to post a time that will qualify her for the SoCal Championships at Cerritos College on May 9.

She is the defending state champion in the event, but is seeded-second this year behind freshman Aminat Olowora of Southwestern College. Olowora has the fastest time in the nation in the 1500, 5000 and 10,000 runs.

Aceves expected to qualify in three events to postseason meets, although she could qualify in five events. She has times in the top six nationally in three events.

If winning the steeplechase in record style wasn’t enough, Aceves ran a personal best in the 800-meter run placing second in her heat, 10th overall.  

ELAC freshman Ramiro Arreola, favored to advance to the postseason, took 11th place in the shot put at the Relays.

Competing against the best in the state, Arreola said he can do better. “It was a good finish,” said ELAC Assistant Coach David Loera. “The meet identified that we need to work on his release.”

Sophomore Andrew Perez, who might compete in the 10,000 run in the SCC finals next April 25, finished in 18th place in the steeplechase at Mt. SAC. If he runs, he will be on a short list of favored SoCal Championship qualifiers.

Freshman Luz Badillo, also a candidate to advance to the postseason, placed 16th in the steeplechase.  

Sophomore Guadalupe Yanez placed 22nd in the 800 run.

ELAC will close out the regular season in the South Coast Conference Championship Preliminaries on Tuesday April 21 at Cerritos College all day.

Story by Tadzio Garcia