Giants sweep long jump events at Sunbirds Invitational

A pair of local recruits turned in the marquee performances as College of the Sequoias' track and field team opened its season Feb. 22.

Taylor Nelson (Redwood High) won the women's long jump in 17-5.25, and Kobe Dennison (Porterville) placed first in the men's long jump in 21-7.25 during the Sunbird Invitational at Fresno Pacific University.

Nelson was also seventh in the 100 (13.36) and a member of the Giants' third-place 4x100 relay (52.46) along with Elizabeth Bienvenue (Reedley), Maegan Fiskin (El Diamante) and Kassandra Sanchez (Mt. Whitney).

Denae Jackson (Redwood) earned a pair of silver medals for COS' women, finishing second in the shot put (39-11.5) and the hammer throw (156-8).

Other highlight performances for the women included Bienvenue's fifth-place finish in the long jump (15-6.75), a sixth-place finish in the pole vault by Halle Arellano (Redwood) and a ninth-place finish in the 100 (13.75) by Sachez. 

For COS' men, Dennison was sixth in the 100 (11.46), and Barry Randle (McFarland) placed in three events: third in the hammer (175-4), fifth in the discus (142-0) and ninth in the javelin (122-4).

Other top performances for the men includes Semaj Taylor (Las Vegas) placing second in the 100 (11.30), Henry Hagen (Woodlake) placing second in the decathlon (5,438 points), Ian Kelly (Golden West) placing fourth in the long jump (21-5), Luis Lopez (Lemoore) placing fourth in the shot put (43-10.5), Evan Loftin (El Diamante)  placing fifth in the 3,000 (8:55.33), Jackson Miller (El Diamante) placing fifth in the triple jump (43-5.75), and Chad Hilvers (Exeter) and Miller tying for fifth in the high jump (6-2).

COS returns to action at 10 a.m. Feb. 28 during the Chabot Relays in Hayward.