The Twentynine Palms Wildcat track and field team sent six athletes to the CIF Preliminary meet on Saturday at Carpinteria high school. The team was led by juniors Adam Mapuatuli and Shania Newby who both competed in two events. Mapuatuli qualified in the shot put with a throw of 45’2.75, good for fifth place and a spot at next week’s CIF finals. Newby, a two-event record holding sprinter, earned ninth place in two events: the 100-meter and 200-meter races.
Freshman Mallory Hutchinson opened the day matching her personal record in the high jump with a 4’10” mark and placed 17th overall.
Team captains Jonathan Carson and KJ Magwood-Morton placed 16th in the 200-meter with a time of 23.27 and 23rd in the 300-meter hurdles respectively.
Sophomore Tucker Thornburg wrapped up the day for the team racing in the 3200-meter race with finish of 30th and a season record time of 10:31.89.
Next for the track and field team will be a trip to the CIF Finals where Newby and Mapuatuli will try to earn a spot on the all CIF list. The meet will be held at El Camino college on Saturday.
