It was a year of rebuilding, filled with new beginnings for the CSU East Bay track team, finalizing with a solid outing at the California Collegiate Athletic Association Track & Field Championships on May 4 to 5.

The Pioneers traveled to CSU Los Angeles for their last meet of the season to compete against some of the top teams across the conference.

“I am extremely proud of all the young men and women who represented our program and competed in their first track CCAA championship,” expressed head coach Ralph Jones.

“Many only recently joined in January, and were able to run season best and personal best times at the conference meet with limited training. Although none of the athletes scored which will be a future goal for us, they all represented the school, community and student body with class, integrity, sportsmanship and most importantly, pride.”

Although the Pioneers missed qualifying for the finals, many runners achieved personal records.

On the women’s side, junior Eugenie Foote hit her personal record in the 200 meters, posting a season best time of 27.10, while freshman Chelsea Ingram recorded her season’s best with a time of 14.41 in the 100 meters.

Sophomore Tiffany Duffy missed qualifying by six places in the 1500 meters.

On the men’s side, freshman Burtland Dixon recorded a season-best time of 11.15 in the 100 meters, missing the finals by just four places. Freshman Kristian Arnold also turned in a season-best time in the 100 meters, clocking in at 11.85.

Under the first year direction of Jones and assistant coach Ron Davis, the Pioneers were not only able to see their first ever track & field championship but were also able to develop new grounds for the future of CSUEB track & field.

“I believe my first year was extremely productive in that we accomplished a number of goals that we set to accomplish such as increasing alumni relationship which was done through constant outreach and our homecoming alumni track meet,” said Jones.

“I wanted to increase student athlete participation in community engagement and we accomplished this by participating in over 10 functions in the community throughout the year.”

Jones is also in the process of planning a community run in the fall where both the local and university community can participate in.

Jones’ plan, now with his first season at CSUEB coming to an end, is to build upon the team successes from this season in hopes of multiplying it for next season.

With Davis having recently been named as the new head coach of the San Jose State University track and field team, Jones looks forward to bringing in another assistant just as qualified.

“Because of our recruiting efforts, we have signed some really talented runners who will come in and make an immediate impact next year, and some exemplary assistant coaching candidates who will benefit the student athletes even more,” expressed Jones.

Local talent Will Weekes from Castro Valley will be transferring in from Chabot College, who is currently the fourth ranked runner in Northern California in the 1500-meter event.

On the women’s side, Robinea McClintock from Compton College, who is currently ranked second in the 800 Meter and the third ranked runner in the 1500, will be joining the Pioneers next season as well.

“I am pleased with the first year, but not content,” said Jones. “This was a good start to our rebuilding efforts but as I tell my athletes all the time, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish so we will continue to work to get better.”