Gauchos win OCC Invitational

The Saddleback women's track & field team won the Orange Coast College Invitational on Friday in Costa Mesa.  The Gaucho women won six different events in capturing the 10-team event.

Saddleback was dominant throughout the day, winning both on the track and in field events.  Holly Morales, Dana McGrath, Samantha Chasteler and Amanda Amundson won individual events while the 4x400 relay team won while closing in on a program record.

Morales, Cayla Porter and Hailey Hunner finished 1-2-4 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (pictured).  Morales crossed the finish line in 12:21.98, making her the ninth fastest runner in program history.  Porter came across in 12:39.42 while Hunner finished in 13:11.74. 

Chastleter was a two-time winner, capturing both the hammer throw and shot put.  Chasteler had a throw of 152'11" to capture the hammer while winning the shot put with a toss of 35'01".

Amundson headlined the podium in the pole vault when she had a career-best finish in winning the event.  Amundson cleared 10'5.25" while Mayra Aranda finished third and Mackenzie Perez fourth. 

McGrath was a winner in the 1,500 meters when she crossed the finish line in 4:51.47.  It was a career-best finish for McGrath and moved her into ninth all-time in Saddleback history.  Right behind her in second place was Megan Good who finished second with a time of 4:52.01, putting her 13^th all-time.

Saddleback's team of Rylee Kerr, Megan Good, Dana McGrath and Alycia Turner captured the 4x400 relay in a time of 4:00.50 to win by more than 17 seconds.  The time is second all-time in Saddleback history, set by Michelle Ponsetto, M. McGaughan, Dawn Leiran and Sara Morton in 1986. 

Saddleback track & field has the week off before competing at the Prairie War Invitational at Cuyamaca College on March 28.