Brittany Peterson was among HSU athletes placing second Saturday.
CHICO — Freshman Laura Tesch and sophomore Heather Snyder were among Humboldt State's top performers as the 2010 track and field season began Saturday for Humboldt State at the Wildcat Relays.
Tesch finished second in the women's high jump, clearing 5 feet, 3 3/4 inches, and Snyder took second in the shot put and discus, posting marks of 40-0 1/2 and 129-6, respectively. In fact, it was a "day of seconds" for the Jacks, according to head coach Sandy Moran, who saw her men's and women's team combine for six runner-up finishes.
"We were conservative in our approach today," Moran said. "This early in the season it is important to work on technique, but overall we had good opening marks."
Pole vaulter Brittany Peterson took second in her first meet since the 2008 spring campaign, clearing 10-6. Also earning a second place finish was senior Megan Rolland, who raced a time of 10 minutes, 8.31 seconds in the women's 3,000 meters.
In the track relays, the Jacks took second in the women's 4x100 relay, the squad of Corrie Schattauer, Brittainy Chown, Melissa Murillo and Olivia Juarez touring the track in 51.04 seconds. The men's unit of Eric Malain, Nicholas Arguelles, Tim Bishop and Luis Galacia did likewise in the distance medley, posting a time of 10:18.88.
Senior Melissa Murillo took third in the triple jump with a distance of 34-1 1/2, and Chown, a freshman, placed fourth in the long jump with a leap of 16-10 3/4. For the HSU men, William Taylor placed fourth in the 100 meters, opening his season with a clocking of 11.29 seconds.
Helena Silva, the Jacks' primary heptathlete, began her senior season with personal best marks in the shot put (31-8 1/2) and long jump (16-1 1/2). She'll compete Thursday and Friday in the Chico Multi-Events, along with HSU men's athletes Tyler Simmons and Pat Fox.