ARCATA, Calif---  This Saturday, February 12, the Cal Poly Humboldt men's and women's track and field teams began their 2022 season hosting the Annual Green & Gold at The Redwood Bowl.  The annual meet saw current Lumberjacks compete against each other along with former 'Jacks and student-athletes from the College of Redwoods. 
 
During the Green and Gold, the Lumberjacks had several presentations that were made in the Dam Worth It Movement and ceremonies honoring Humboldt Track & Field alum Sue Grigsby and former professor Dr. Dick Stepp for all their contributions to the program over the past five decades. 
 
"Humboldt Track & Field had a great showing at the Green & Gold Open," said head coach Sarah Ingram.  "It was a great experience for our young team to get back into competition in a supportive, low pressure environment on our home turf, where we got to compete against ourselves, College of the Redwoods, and a handful of alumni and unattached participants. We always approach this meet in a fun, lighthearted way, encouraging all to participate and to celebrate the sport of track & field. We finished the day off with one of our favorite traditions, the 4x400 redwood log relay, which is always a spectacle. We had many strong performances throughout the day, and several athletes set new personal records in their events."
 
Cal Poly Humboldt's team was split into two teams the Green and Gold. The Cal Poly Humboldt Gold captured the event with 226 points followed by the Green with 203 points.  Joy Hano highlighted the meet for the 'Jacks with her personal best time of 15.35 seconds which moved into ninth place on Humboldt's all-time top ten list in the 100-meter hurdles.  Hano also placed first in the 150-meter run (19.41).
 
In all the 'Jacks had 14 first place finishers including Hano.  Valerie Heywood captured the 100-meter run (44.41) while Kaela Dennert-Frederick won the high jump (5-0). Dennert-Frederick had a first-place throw of 38.96 meters in the hammer throw.  Delaena Montes captured the discus with a throw of 29.39 meters. Capturing the men's 150-meter run was Ryan Castro (17.17) with Aris Valerio winning the 1200-meter run (3:08.54).  In the 3200-meter run, the Lumberjacks' Ricardo Torres had a winning time of 9:34.90.  Jaxon Leduc had a winning time of 6:27.96 in the 2000-meter steeplechase and Travis Allen captured the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 10.79. 
 
Jason Trent won the hammer throw with a throw of 44.32 meters and Jared. Del Real won the shot put (14.40 meters).  Finishing first in the pole vault and discus respectively, were Jonathan Sweeney (4.00 meters) and Kegan Richards (2.90m).
 
Mid-way through the Green and Gold, the Lumberjacks recognized the Dam Worth It movement which was brought to Cal Poly Humboldt's campus this fall by current track and field student-athlete Grace Kasberger.  Dam Worth Its mission is to utilize the influential platform of sport, partnered with the power of storytelling to end the stigma surrounding mental health.  Kasberger and the Dam Worth It movement is looking to end the stigma around mental health.  For more information, go to https://humboldtathletics.com/sports/2021/9/13/humboldt-state-branch-dam-worth-it.aspx.
 
Before the running events, Sue Grigsby was honored for her Lumberjack Athletics achievements and her ongoing support of Humboldt through the Sue Grigsby Scholarship Endowment for Kinesiology majors and the Sue Grigsby Women's Distance Running Scholarship Endowment. Grigsby, a 1979 Liberal Studies Recreation Administration graduate, is an All-Time Top 10 record holder in the 800-meter run, a member of the University's Athletic Hall of Fame, and a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. Rosa Granados and Saedy Williamson are this year's Sue Grigsby Women's Distance Running Scholarship recipients. The 'Jacks presented Grigsby with a Lumberjack hatchet, just like we present to our seniors when they graduate, to remind her that she'll always be a part of the team and the Lumberjack family. 
 
Additionally, Humboldt Track and Field honored Professor Emeritus, Dr. Richard Stepp. Since 1973, Dr. Stepp has supported the immediate needs of our student-athletes, our Track and Field Program, and the Student Recreation Center. Much of the University's strength and conditioning equipment, pole vault and javelin equipment and, a new Track & Field timing system, have been generously donated by Dr. Stepp. Stepp was also presented with a Lumberjack hatchet, just before the start of the javelin event, which he also competed in. 
 
"Everybody out there had a really enjoyable time, especially being on such a beautiful Humboldt day," noted Ingram.  "The athletes enjoyed being coached by alumni, and seeing alumni and coaches compete with them side by side. I think we all strengthened our bonds as a team and family. It was a really good warm-up for us as we prepare for a full season schedule ahead of us."
 
The 'Jacks will return to the track on February 23-24 in Chico, Calif., as they will be sending their multi-athletes to the Chico Multi-Event Classic on the campus of Chico State University.  Humboldt will compete in the Kim Duyst Invitational on March 4-5 on the campus of Stanislaus State University in Turlock, Calif.  The 'Jacks will host the Humboldt Invitational on March 26 at Redwood Bowl.