The Olympic College Track & Field team made a powerful showing at the Ralph Vernacchia Open on April 26 at Civic Stadium in Bellingham, hosted by Western Washington University. Battling against some of the top NCAA Division II and NAIA programs in the Pacific Northwest, the Rangers rose to the challenge with two relay wins, multiple top-10 finishes, and a wave of personal bests.
On the men's side, freshman Octavian Clark led the sprint crew with a 14th-place finish in both the 100 meters (10.93) and 200 meters (22.34), both team-leading times. The 400 meters saw freshmen Aiden Smith and Zachary Cummings post strong showings, finishing 7th and 9th respectively with times of 51.21 and 51.43.
That trio—Clark, Smith, and Cummings—joined forces with freshman Jaxson McCrimmon to win the men's 4x100-meter relay in 44.26, topping a competitive field and making a statement against larger programs. In the jumps, sophomore Jaden Bluitt cleared 1.75 meters to place 6th in the high jump, while McCrimmon went 6.09 meters in the long jump for 7th. Sophomore Thaden Bauch soared to 5th in the triple jump with a mark of 12.28 meters.
In the throws, sophomore Ivan Picazo had another busy and productive day, placing 7th in the shot put (13.62m), 13th in discus (39.7m), and 8th in the hammer (49.29m).
The Ranger women were equally impressive, headlined by sophomore N'dya Hudson, who ran a personal-best 12.54 in the 100 meters to finish 13th. She also took 12th in the 200 meters with a strong 25.87. Hudson anchored the winning 4x100-meter relay, teaming up with freshman Na'Riyah Jones, Shay-Lah Squally, and sophomore Aalliya Alcorn to cross the line in 50.97 and claim first place.
Squally also made her mark in the high jump, taking 3rd with a leap of 1.57 meters. Teammate sophomore Avery Thompson followed right behind with a personal best of 1.52 meters for 4th place.
In the throws, freshman Nashayla Fellows landed top-10 finishes in both shot put (8th) and discus (4th), continuing her standout debut season. Meanwhile, fellow freshman Mariah Silva moved up to 5th in the NWAC with her shot put mark of 11.23 meters, adding more strength to OC's formidable women's throws unit.
Reflecting on the day, Coach Austin shared, "The team continues to make strong progress, and I can't wait to see what they accomplish at the championships!"
With NWAC Championships looming on the horizon (May 19), the Rangers are peaking at the right time. Mark your calendars to come support our Rangers at home when we host the NWAC North-West Region Championships on Sunday, May 11. Stay up to date with meet details at the Olympic College Track & Field Schedule.
