Last weekend Pima Community College Track & Field team competed in Mesa for the NJCAA National Championships. The three day competition offered Men’s and Women’s events Thursday through Saturday.
The Men’s team was competitive and place well, but the women’s team dominated the championships. The Women’s team placed in 12th out of 28 teams with 21 points.
Sophomore jumper Brianna Rodriguez finished as the number one long jumper in the country. On Friday, Rodriguez jumped 18 feet, 11 ¾ inches to finish out her Aztec career as the national champion. Rodriguez also added 10 points to PCC Women’s Track & Field team total. Greg Wenneborg, Track & Field head coach said, “She was always the first to practice and the last to leave…”
Competing in the high jump Kaysee Pilgrim jumped 5 feet, 7 ¼ coming in 3rd place nationally. She also earned a total of 6 points for the Aztecs.
Both Rodriguez and Kaysee were honored earning NJCAA All-American status.
PCC Athletic Director Edgar Soto told the ADI, “It’s huge to be a national champion. Through athletics, education and everything they did a great job… This is something they will remember for the rest of their lives and it will be something in our history books we will always look back to.”
Other notable women performances include Nikki Regalado who added 3 points for the team. Ashley Dawson, Vanessa Fox, Maggie Prillaman, Raelene Yocupicio, Shanice Alchesay, Tenishia Reynolds and Col’bi Nez all placed and contributed for the great showing at the NJCAA National Championships at Mesa Community College.
Head Coach Wenneborg also commented, “The big news is the national championship with Brianna Rodriquez; she is an amazing athlete and had a perfect day… Chad Harrison is a world class recruiter and coach…”
The men’s Aztec team had some notable performances from Alfonso Mejia placing in 5th in the 400-meter hurdles and Eddie Wilcox tied for 11th in the high jump. Other notable men placements were Anfernee Alexander, Anthony Spendlove, Deante Gaines, Khailil Hakim, and Cruz Rodriguez.
Of the two All-Americans, Brianna Rodriguez plans to take her talents to the next level, but Kaysee Pilgrim will be back with the Aztec’s next year to seek out a national championship.
To see all results, click here.