The 2025 track and field season is off to a great start with an outstanding performance by the Olympians at the annual RCC Early Bird Invitational, held at  Riverside City College. 

Continuing the success from last year. the relay teams flexed their muscles. The women's 4x100m team of Ashley Nash, Abrielle Hagans, Kaylee Tan, and Amorianna Leviett clocked an A-standard qualifying time of 48.44. The men's 4x100m team of Josh Schindler, Ryan Mann, Marcel Acosta, and Matt Robertson also set an A-standard time of 41.69.

The women’s distance events were just as impressive, with the distance medley team of Joelle Tonne, Jazzlyn Islas, Kate Touchet, and Alexis Noble finishing first at 12:46.22. The women’s 4x800 meter team of Joelle Tonne, Suhey Arce, Kate Touchet, and Alexis Noble also secured first place with a time of 9:55.11.

The men’s distance medley team of Luci Roberts, Aundrey Calvert, Alex Leroy, and Ian Rosen finished first at 10:29.27. The men’s 4x800 meter team, featuring the same lineup, also crossed the finish line first at 10:29.27.

In the field events, Kyle Pugal dominated the pole vault, clearing 3.95 meters to take first place. Freshman Ronald Way won the men’s 2-mile event with a time of 9:33.61, followed by teammate Josh Edwards at 9:43.55. The men's javelin squad swept the top four positions, led by Lucas Scott (51.33m, state A-Standard), Manny Cerda (47.91m), Jordan Julien (46.21m), and Jake Nickley (45.33m).

The Olympians placed second overall behind Riverside City College, while the women’s team finished in fourth place. Head coach Sean Ricketts was pleased with both teams performance. As usual, and as previous year dictates, the student-athletes will only get stronger as the season progresses. 

The next competition for both teams will be the Ron Kamaka Events Challenge at Mt. San Antonio College. The heptathlon and decathlon events, in which Emily Pesch will participate, are scheduled for Thursday, February 20th, and Friday, February 21st. The Open meet, which the rest of the team will be competing, will start on Saturday, February 22nd.