Coach Troy Johnson welcomes back a host of returnees and several promising newcomers for this season’s 2009 men’s and women’s team. Beginning with the men, Johnson welcomes back two individuals who competed in the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships held at Mt. San Antonio College and hosted by Cal Poly Pomona.

Men’s 100-meter specialist Jonathan Williams (Jr. Temecula) performed in the 100-m preliminaries and is the most experienced sprinter in the fold. He ran a season-best 10.53 at the Mt. SAC Relays and earned a provisional-qualifying time of 21.34 in the 200.

Williams had a marvelous debut season his freshman year as he won CCAA Freshman of the Year honors and competed in three events at the NCAA meet in Charlotte, N.C. He went on to represent the United States in the 2007 Pan-Am Junior Championships held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The other NCAA contestant is Joaquin Ortiz, who arguably was the most improved athlete on Johnson’s squad in 2008. Ortiz (Woodland), who is enrolled in CPP’s Graduate School, dropped more than five seconds off his personal best in the 800 and earned a spot in the NCAAs with a personal-best 1:52.27.

Sophomore Carter Griffin (Placentia) gave CPP its second straight California Collegiate Freshman of the Year honor as he was among the more versatile Broncos last season. He placed eighth in the 200 (22.45), fifth in the 400 (49.6) and ran on both relay teams. He finished with season-best times in the 200 (22.30) and 400 (48.81).

Senior Brian Roser (Chino) returns for his final year of eligibility and could be one of the top 400-intermediate hurdlers on the West Coast. He finished second at last year's CCAA meet and holds the 10th best time in school history (53.71) and looks to break into the 52s this spring.

Others who finished in the top eight at the CCAA Championships include: senior Kevin Urak (Moreno Valley) who was fourth and was just one place away from earning All-CCAA honors in the 3,000-steeplechase; sophomore hurdler Neal Macrorie (Moreno Valley), who finished seventh in the 110 hurdles and 400 hurdles; sophomore Albert Diaz (San Bernardino), the 2007 CCAA Cross Country Newcomer of the Year, who placed eighth in the 800; junior Michael Hernandez (Moreno Valley), who finished fifth in the decathlon (6,037 points) and seventh in the high jump (6-4); junior Derek Wong (Glendora), who placed eighth in the pole vault; and sophomore Nathan Schultz (Loma Linda), who was eighth in the javelin (156-4).

Other returnees include: sophomore Victor Cuccia (distance/Apple Valley); junior Anthony Drake (pole vault/Moreno Valley); junior Connor Duckworth (hurdles/Corona); sophomore sprinter Jorge Garcia (Glendora); senior Terrence Kirby (mid-distance, Riverside); senior sprinter Quan Tran (Rosemead); and senior Alex Wood (distance/Lakewood), who was an All-CCAA performer for Johnson in cross country.

Newcomers to Johnson’s squad include: freshman Jacob Deavers (hurdler/Lake Elsinore), freshman Clint Hostetler (distance/Chino Hills), the CCAA Cross Country Freshman of the Year; junior Allister Larion (weights/Cerritos); sprinter Jesus Santoyo; freshman Clark Selters (distance/Claremont); junior transfer from Cal State Stanislaus Brendan Thaler (Tracy), who finished second in last year's CCAA 400; junior Jersain Torres (distance Anaheim), an All-CCAA performer this fall in cross country; and freshman Rene Vidal (distance/Mecca).

Headlining the women’s team are a pair of NCAA performers and a pair of school record holders. At the top of the heap is senior Jasmine Winn (Pomona), who earned Cal Poly Pomona’s only All-American honor in 2008. Winn placed third in the long jump at the NCAAs and held the nation’s longest jump for a good six weeks in the early season. She has competed in two NCAA meets and looks to finish her career in style.

At the CCAA meet, Winn finished third in the 100 (12.32), third in the 200 (24.77) and third in the long jump (18-11 ¼). Her 200 time met an NCAA provisional standard.

Sprinter Tokie Adeniji (Pomona) completes the list of returning NCAA entrants from a year ago. Adeniji earned a spot in the 400 as a sophomore after she finished as the CCAA runner-up in the event in 55.49. She finished fifth in the CCAA 200 (25.15).

Senior Tiffany Turner (La Crescenta) showed late last season that she found an event that she could specialize – the 3,000 steeplechase. She established the CPP record in the event in 11 minutes, 8.87 seconds and served notice that she would be contending in 2009. She met the NCAA provisional qualifying time, but did not earn a spot at Walnut. Turner placed fifth in the 3,000 (10:17.31) and fourth in the steeple (11:24.22) at CCAAs.

Junior Ileana Tejada (Ontario) set the record in the hammer throw with a heave of 163-10. She went on to finish fourth in the CCAA shot put (38-4 ¼), 4th in the discus (128) and third in the hammer (154-11). Her record hammer met the NCAA provisional standard.

Others who finished in the top eight in the CCAA and return are: sophomore Elizabeth Soria, who placed eighth in the 1,500 (4:48.49); junior Jennifer Cryer (Chino Hills), who placed sixth in the 100 hurdles (15.29); senior Amanda Smith (Orinda), who placed seventh in the 400 hurdles (67.19); sophomore Kelsey Lee (Castro Valley), who was seventh in the triple jump (35-2 ½); junior Megan Emami (Anaheim), who was eighth in the triple jump (35-1); and junior Riz Carrington (Fontana), who was eighth in the shot put (36-2).

Other returnees include: junior Allison Brewer (hurdles/Orinda); sophomore Sarah Garcia (distance/Placentia); junior Amber Hebb (distance/Alta Loma), a 2008 All-CCAA cross country selection; junior Denise Salceda (distance/Placentia); junior Haley Smith (distance/San Diego); and junior Lauren Wong (distance/La Crescenta).

Newcomers to the women’s team include: freshman Jennifer Adams (pole vaulter/Temecula) sophomore Courtney Alberi (jump/Castaic), who also was a member of the 2008 NCAA West Region volleyball runner-up squad; junior Kristy Berlin (weights/Salinas); freshman Michelle Ross (sprints/Yorba Linda); freshman Tramika Thomas (jumps/Ontario); freshman Kaitlin Traver (sprinter/Riverside); and freshman Alyssa Wolff (sprints/Irvine).

The CCAA meet will take place in Chico and the NCAA meet will be held in San Angelo, Texas and hosted by Angelo State University in late May.

2009 Track & Field Quick Facts
Institution: Cal Poly Pomona
Location: 3801 W. Temple Avenue, Pomona, CA, 91768
Nickname: Broncos
Colors: Green and Gold
Affiliation: NCAA Division II
Head Coach: Troy Johnson, 2nd year
Track And Field Office Phone: (909) 869-2831
E-mail:troyjohnson@csupomona.edu
Men’s 2008 CCAA Finish: 5 (85.5 points)
Men’s 2008 All-CCAA: 5
Men's 2008 CCAA Champions: Sofiane Meniri (800)

Men's 2008 NCAA Qualifiers: 3
Men's 2008 All-Americans: 0
Women’s 2008 CCAA Finish: 4 (94)
Women’s 2008 All-CCAA: 6
Women's 2008 CCAA Champions: Adrienne Schumm (10,000)
Women's 2008 NCAA Qualifiers: 4
Women’s 2008 All-Americans: 1 (Jasmine Winn, Long jump)
All-Time All-Americans (M&W): 127