Shabazz shot put title paces CSM Men at NorCals

Nasir Shabazz had a huge personal best with his first shot put effort of 52 feet, 6 1/4 inches to provide the College of San Mateo men a title at the Northern California Track and Field Championships. The sophomore, out of San Mateo High, finished ahead of state leader Zoom Wilson of San Joaquin Delta, who finished third.

Shabazz now ranks No. 4 in the state heading into the state finals at Mt. San Antonio College.

Noah Gonzalez, a CSM freshman fromf St. Ignatius Prep, placed second in the long jump at 23-2 -- behind winner Levi Harte of Chabot (23-9 3/4). Gonzalez was sixth in the triple jump (44-9 3/4), so he secured state finals berths in both events.

Evan Usher (freshman from Woodside) placed second in the discus throw with a personal best 157-7 -- behind state leader Liam Brennan of De Anza, who won at 171-9. Usher, who ranked No. 2 in the javelin field at 172-1, had trouble finding the range at Santa Rosa, and finished 11th at 146-1. Shabazz (138-11) was 13th.

Usher also scored in the shot put, seventh at 47-1 1/4, just missing a state finals berth there (but is a first alternate with a state "A" standard season best 47-11 3/4).

CSM's Coast Conference high jump champion Luka Sebisanovic (frosh from San Mateo High) cleared 6-6 3/4 to place third and advance to the state finals. Marcus Madoski of Modesto JC cleared a state season co-leading 6-10 3/4 for the NorCal title. Sebisanovic has a season best of 6-8, ranking No. 8 in the state.

Bulldogs pole vaulter Cal Adasiewicz (Woodside) could only clear 13-3 1/2 for tenth place, short of his 13-9 1/4 season best (ranking No. 16 in the state).

Carmel Mendez-Grassia (Woodside), the Coast Conference 110 meter high hurdles champion, did not get past the prelims in his specialty, finishing 11th in 15.85. He was 16th in the 400 hurdles prelims in 57.92.
CSM finished tenth in men's team scoring with 39 points. Modesto totaled 110 points, sweeping both titles.