SAN MARCOS, Calif. -- On Thursday, Cal Poly Humboldt kicked off day one at the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Track and Field Championships with a strong showing. Junior Grace Kasberger and freshman Cocome McKamey competed in the Women's Heptathlon and finished atop the leader board with the heptathlon event rounding out tomorrow. Kasberger, the defending 2022 CCAA heptathlon champion, currently holds the top spot with a total of 2,836 points. McKamey resides in third place with a total of 2,770 points. 

"We're all incredibly proud of these ladies, they really showed up to compete this weekend with a commanding start," stated head coach Sarah Ingram. "They are executing everything they've been building on all year, and they're just having a ton of fun in this competition."

Kasberger and McKamey started the day off with lifetime bests in the 100 meter hurdles. With both athletes finishing in the Top-5 for this event, Kasberger finished in third place posting a time of 15.26, while McKamey posted a time of 15.74.

In the very next event, both Kasberger and McKamey recorded a lifetime best in their high jump mark. The two athletes reached 1.61m (5' 3 1/4"), which was tied for first place in the event along with Charlotte Allison of Cal State San Marcos who also reached the same mark. 

"They really set the tone for the day with season and lifetime personal bests in the hurdles, and followed it up with both setting BIG lifetime bests in the high jump," stated Ingram. "Hurdles and high jump are big point getters in a multi and to start off with double PR's just carried their positive momentum throughout the rest of the day, setting sizable lifetime day one PR's."

Ingram expanded specifically on the high jump event, stating, "The high jump competition in particular was really fun. There were three athletes left in the competition. They all had two misses at the height with one attempt remaining. And one by one, they each cleared on their third attempts, the crowd erupted with cheers. Grace and Coco have both been showing so well in the high jump practices and we've known a PR was on the horizon, it just couldn't be any better timing than today."

Carrying the momentum to the next event, Kasberger and McKamey finished first place and second place in the shot put. Kasberger threw a 10.47m (34' 4 1/4") and McKamey threw a 10.30m (33' 9 1/2"). 

Rounding out the final event of day one was the women's heptathlon 200 meter dash. McKamey finished in fifth place with a time of 26.81, while Kasberger was not far behind, crossing the finish line in sixth place with a time of 26.89. 

On Friday, the two will compete in long jump, javelin, and the 800 meter run, looking to secure a spot on the podium.

The Lumberjacks also had one member of the men's team, Robert Cardenas, who competed in the Men's Discus throwing event. Cardenas just missed the qualifying mark, but threw a 37.28m which was good for eleventh place overall. 

Ingram said, "Rob went up against tough competition in the discus, but in his first event at his first conference championship he is learning how to handle his nerves and keep his composure. He will be returning to competition on Saturday in the shot put."

The Lumberjacks return to action tomorrow at Mangrum Track and Field in San Marcos, Calif. for day two of the CCAA Championships.

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