ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - In the first ever joint championship event hosting two conferences in Southern California, UC Merced, Arizona Christian and The Master’s College came away with team victories, April 24-25 at Soka University.
Competing in their final season in the California Pacific conference, UC Merced, won both the men’s (122 points) and women’s (134) team titles. The Bobcats are moving to the NCAA division two level next year and exiting the NAIA. They will join the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) for the 2025-26 school year.
The Arizona Christian women used depth in the sprints, throws and jumps to pull away from The Master’s in the GSAC team race, 282-230.
The Mustangs men rode the backs of its distance squad to edge AZ Christian 270-257 for the crown.
Double victories from Jonathan Chavez and Martel Fields propelled UC Merced on the men’s side. Chavez, who was voted the male athlete of the year on the track for the third consecutive season, won the 1500 and 5000 meter races as well as a winning leg on the 4 x 800 relay.
Fields, a sophomore, was victorious in the 100 (10.60) and 200 (21.40) meters.
Rylan Rhodes of Arizona Christian was the high-point scorer overall in the meet, amassing 40.5 points.
Hannah Fredericks of The Master’s won the 800 (2:15.34), 1500 (4:39.85), 5000 (17:09.21) and 10,000 (36:29.08) in the two-day meet.
The Mustang men were led by Hunter Roy’s double win in the 800 (1:55.83) and 1500 (3:55.24). Teammate Jude DeVries won the 5000 (15:10.19) and 10,000 (30:45.48).
– Matt Farmer
