SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Vanguard men's track and field claimed seven first-place finishes at their opening meet, Saturday at the Rustbuster Meet hosted at Westmont College.
The Blue and Gold spread their winning canvas between the trifecta of sprints, distance, and jumps

Indoor Records Broken:
Kaylee Best | Long Jump 19'3 ¼"  | Previous 17'8 ¼" (Jordan Burke 2024)
Kaylee Best | Triple Jump 39'3 ¼" | Previous 38'11 ¾" (Kiana Davis 2014)
Haley Svendsen | 300m Hurdles 47.33
Landon Torres | 300m Hurdles 40.50
* The 300m event is new for both programs



Freshman Andre Hackett debuted with a first-place finish in the 60 meters in 6.90. He was followed by fellow freshman Lenier Pitts Jr. at 7.02.

Pitts Jr. also tested his wheels in his first 200-meter race, where he claimed second at 22.84.

Vanguard filled out two of the three podium positions in the 300 meters, with Jonathan Krynicki taking first place with a time of 35.20 and newcomer Jack Slavin securing second at 37.20

Jesse O'Campo finished second in the men's 1000-meter, coming across at 2.35.02. He also competed in the men's mile (4:39.14).

The 3000 meters champion was Ommar Arroyo, who highlighted the distance group with a 9:00.70 finish.

Moving into hurdles, captain Chris Watson won the 60-meter hurdles, coming in at 9.01. In the 300-meter hurdles, Landon Torres and Cohen Swift also impressed, with Torres taking first place (40.50) and Swift following closely in second (40.76).

The Lions got to see the early building blocks of their relay teams take shape, with the 4x400 team of Isiah Feaver, Jayden Sanchez, Cohen Swift, and Cooper Anderson coming in at 3:28.26 to end in second place. VU's 4x800 team (Josiah Kirby, Jesse O'Campo, Caleb Dickerson, Rylan Starnes) also banked a podium place, finishing third after an 8:54:09 split.

Beau Swett and Robert Torrez headline the top finishers among the jump team. Swett cleared 6-00.75 (1.85m) to win the high jump and nestled in at 40' 8.75" (12.41m) to take third place in the triple jump. Torrez took to the skies in pole vault, grazing 9' 0.25" (2.75m) to document his first collegiate win.

What was Said?  "I'm so proud of our team today!  They shared great joy and camaraderie with the Westmont and TMU athletes, while competing their hearts out," said Head Coach Bryan Wilkins.  "We saw loads of personal bests, and sever top 10 marks on the day.  Also, super proud of Kaylee Best for break two school records in her debut, along with seeing Hailey Svendsen and Landon Torres set a pair of new school in the 300m hurdles!  A very fun and fulfilling start to our season."

What's Next? It's back to the action, next Saturday, Feb. 7, at the OIDFE Challenge in Claremont.