The Cal State Northridge men and women’s track and field team competed at the Trojan Invitational on March 25th at Loker Stadium at USC. The Matadors also co-hosted the Hammer Throw March 17 and March 18 at the North Campus Stadiums. Saturday’s events began with the women’s javelin and ended with the men’s 4×4 relay team.

The Big West Female Track and Field Athlete of the Week went to CSUN’s sophomore runner Deanna Goodwin and UCI’s Lauren Collins.

“(I) did okay,” Goodwin said, referring to the Trojan Invitational. “I took third overall, my time was good but I felt like I could have done better.”

Goodwin’s personal best occurred last season at the NCAA West Regional with a time of 11.62. She said she would like to beat that with a time of 11.4.

“A quarter of a second may not sound like a lot,” but it really is,” said assistant coach Avery Anderson. “I definitely thing she’s capable.”

Though early in the season, there have been many impressive contributions to both the men and women’s side. Sophomore Shauna Hackett came in third place with a time of 11.84 and was followed closely behind by Dominique Calvin in fourth place with a time of 12.20.

Goodwin took second place in the 200 meters with a time of 24.42, followed by Hacket in third with a time of 25.60.

Other top scorers included freshman Julie Eze, who took second in the 400 with an impressive time of 57.70 and Jessica Gomez who finished the 800 meter with a time of 2:19.94.

Freshman Ashleigh McGrew had a positive turnout in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 14.79, as did freshman Candyce Babb with a long jump score of 5.45 meters. Babb is very proud of her team’s success. “We’ve been performing very well for the time in the season we’re in,” Babb said.

Bobbie Patton also threw a distance of 42.52 in the javelin.

The men’s side fared just as well with equally impressive performances.

“(We’re) a really strong group,” said sophomore Kevin Nious. “We bring in the most numbers, and we make the biggest impact. We’re like the heart of the team.”

Freshman Bradley Ike helped lead the Matadors with a performance in the 100 meters. Ike finished in first-place with a score of 10.76.

“I felt like I had a pretty decent time,” Ike said. “But I’m definitely going to get faster.”

Sophomores Anthony Brown (14.26), Justin Johnson (14.38) and freshman James Fredrickson (14.68) finished first, second and third in the in the 110 meter hurdles.

Though frustrated with the injuries that come with running on a first division team, the Matadors remain confident.

“Of course it’s a downer to the team,” Fredrickson said. “But we do the best with what we’ve got.”

Fredrickson, who is currently the Big West 400 meter champion with a time of 54.60, wants himself and the team to continue to excel.

“You can expect me to run better,” Fredrickson said. “And for us to do better as a team.”

The men’s jumpers also had an impressive turnout. Junior Alex Marbley won the high jump with a score of 1.98 meters. Freshman Rolando Felizola, who won the long jump with a score of 7.24 meters and Sean Jones finished with a score 4.87 meters.

“[The team] has been doing really well,” Avery said. “The thing we’re really trying to do here is to build a team.”

Brown is the lone Matador who has qualified for regional with a 14.26 in the 110 Meter Hurdles. Fredrickson and Johnson qualified for conference with a score of 14.30 while Johnson finished with a score of 14.34.

Ike and sophomore Brandon Ruffin qualified for conference in 100 Meters. Ike finished with a score of 10.76, while Ruffin finished behind him with a time of 10.83. Ike also qualified for conference in 200 Meters with a finish of 21.78.

Brown also qualified for conference in 200 Meters with a finish of 21.66. Freshman Alan Lindsay is the only Matador to qualify for conference from 400 Metes with a score of 48.68.

In the 800 Meters, senior Daniel Clementa and in the 1,500 Meter Christian Haase also qualified for conference.

For the women, Goodwin, Calvin and sophomore Shauna Hackett qualified for confernce in the 100 Meters and 200 Meters, along with Goodwin.

McGrew and Kayli Sanders qualified for conference in the 100 Meter Hurdles while Eze qualified in 400 Meters and senior Liz Camy qualified for confernce in 1,500 Meters.

Nicole Garcia can be reached at nicole.garcia.66@csun.edu.