Valenzuela, Liu Power Best Track Team Performance in Years at FPU

by Cerwin D. Haynes

He's been telling us for a couple of years now that the Pack is preparing to hunt for big game in track and field... "he" being East Los Angeles College track and field head coach Milton Browne. Looking at the results from last weekend's FPU Sunbird Invite, the Huskies have taken big bites out of their competition.  

East LA Men netted the third-best JUCO score (20 points) led by Sophomore Fernando Valenzuela finishing second overall in the Men's 400 Meters and first of all 3C2A runners. His time of 47.62 was a PR as well as the top 3C2A mark in the state (he earned CCC A and B checkmarks which could ultimately punch him a ticket to the State Championships if it holds). Freshman William Liu also had a strong individual outing, finishing fifth (10.76 - PR) in the Men's 100 Meters and second of all 3C2A runners (Jeffrey Missouri of Modesto finished first). ELAC also had three runners in the top ten of the Men's 200 Meters: Valenzuela (eighth overall/second in 3C2A at 21.89-PR), freshman Cristian Dineros (ninth/third at 21.95-PR) and Liu (tenth/fourth at 21.99).

The Green also did well for themselves in a couple of team relays. The foursome of Liu, Dineros, Valenzuela and sophomore Josiah Palacios placed seventh (third of 3C2A teams) in the Men's 4x100 Relays with a time of 42.88. Then they grabbed fourth overall (first of 3C2A teams!) in the 4x400 Relays (Liu, Dineros, Valenzuela and sophomore Darryl Auston) with a time of 3:23.46, netting them a B-standard.

"We had the best overall team performance ever," said Coach Browne.

UP NEXT:

The Pack will have the upcoming weekend off. Afterwards, they'll head over to Long Beach City College on Friday, March 7 for the Vikings Invitational.