Dorn double-winner at Coast Conference Championships; leads CSM to NorCals on Saturday

MONTEREY -- Ericka Dorn was an overwhelming double Coast Conference track champion in the 800 and 1,500 meters on Saturday at Monterey Peninsula College, completing a "perfect" individual career double double. The Westmoor High grad won both events for a second year Dorn was the obvious star at the championships. "I was happy with the double," she said after winning comfortably. "I saved my energy for NorCals. I'm going for a triple, with the 5K."

Northern California finals for the 3C2A (California Community College Athletic Association) in all three races are Saturday at Santa Rosa JC.

Dorn leads the state this season at 800 meters with her CSM record, 2 minutes, 13.42 seconds – 3 seconds ahead of others in the north; also paces the north region at both 1,500 meters at 4:42.73 – by a 9-second margin -- and 5,000 meters at 17:46.68 – by 12 seconds.

Carmel Mendez-Grassia was an upset winner in the 110 meter hurdles. The freshman from Woodside High grad got out of the blocks first and extended his lead over the hurdles to win in a personal best 15.59 seconds. "Once I had the lead, I didn't want to let it go," he said after the race. Mendez-Grassia also was third in the 400 hurdles with another PB, 57.60.

Luka Sebisanovic had the best In high jumping performances to give the Bulldogs a field event crown. The San Mateo High grad and Foster City resident cleared the winning height of 6-feet, 6 3/4 inches on his first attempt to defeat Oliver Ottmar of Monterey Peninsula, who needed a third try to get over that mark. Sebisanovic was "perfect" on the day until the bar was raised to 2.05 meters (6-8 3/4), which neither athlete cleared in the damp weather.

"I'd like to jump 2.05 this year," said Sebisanovic, realizing that's where his top Northern California opposition stands this season. Three NorCal athletes have cleared that height. He will meet them on Friday at noon in the Northern California championships at Santa Rosa JC. Sebisanovic has jumped a personal best of 2.03 meters (6-8) the previous week to win the open division at the statewide Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa. He shares the No. 4 NorCal and No. 8 state ranking with that mark. His best last year as a senior at San Mateo high was 6-6.

In men's field events competition for CSM, javelin favorite Evan Usher (Woodside) settled for third place at 162-6. He, however, comes into Friday's NorCal finals ranked second in the region at 172-1. Usher placed second in the discus throw at 149-4, where he ranks No. 3 at 151-6 going into Saturday region finals.

He was fourth in the shot put (46-7 1/2), just behind teammate and San Mateo High grad Nasir Shabazz (46-9 3/4) – who ranks second at 51-5 1/2 heading to Saturday's NorCal finals.

Cal Adasiewicz (Woodside) took third in the pole vault (13-9 3/4) for the Bulldogs. Sean Milburn (St. Ignatius Prep) was fourth in the triple jump (42-0) and sixth in the long jump (20-6 1/2) for CSM.

Kona Jane Dascoscos placed third in the women's shot put at 34-9.

On the track, Westmoor grad Ariel Perez was third with personal bests in both the women's 100 meters hurdles (15.97) and 400 hurdles (1:07.10) for CSM. Arianna Hathorne (Oceana) took third in the 100 meters (12.54) and fourth in the 200 (26.70). Both athletes advanced to Friday's NorCal Prelims.

--Santa Rosa hosts the Northern California Championships on Friday and Saturday – with most running finals on Saturday. Normally the top six placers (four in the lane races) qualify for the 3C2A State Championship finals (which CSM hosted in 2025). This year the event goes south to Mt. San Antonio College's Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, May 15-16. That track is named for the former CSM coach -- who later started the track program at Mt. SAC.

Hartnell won the men's team championship, scoring 239 points, with San Mateo third (109). The Panthers also took the women's title (219). CSM placed fifth (64).