Cassie Mitchell, a Kinesiology major at OCC, is ranked No. 1 in the United States for the 3000-meter steeplechase.

Mitchell was hoping to get personal records in the 1,500 and 3,000 meter run at the Coast Classic over the weekend because, "it's my last chance to do it."

She finished first in both events with a time of 4:42.50 and 10:20.98 respectively.

What is the steeplechase and what’s your best time?
It’s a 3000-meter run with five barriers between them. My best time is 10:58.

How long have you been doing the steeplechase?
I’m fairly new at it. I’ve only had probably a year experience because I started in my freshmen year and I’m a sophomore.

Do you like doing the steeplechase?
Yeah, it makes the run more interesting because it’s kind of like a hurdle race for a long distance race.

What kind of music do you like to listen to and any favorite artists?
Mostly rock. I like The Goo Goo Dolls, that’s probably my favorite, and Train.

Do you have any pregame rituals?
Not really, though every time before a race, I listen to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I have no idea why. They have a good beat and I like that funk-rock rhythm before a race.

Talk about being ranked No. 1 in the United States.
I actually had no idea until (head coach John Knox) told me. I don’t know, I feel like I could do a lot better, even though I’m apparently No. 1 right now. I don’t see it as that big of a deal. I’m thinking there are girls on the East coast who haven’t – the coaches hasn’t put in their times yet – so I’m always going to think I’m below someone.

Besides track and field, name some of your hobbies.
I like to do jigsaw puzzles a lot. The 1,000 piece ones or over that. I had a 5,000 piece one that took over three months.

What was the picture of the puzzle at the end?
It was a picture of a horseshoe like in Utah I think. It was so hard.

Any other hobbies?
Occasionally I like to sketch. I haven’t found a lot of time to do that, but sketching and reading.

Me too Cassie. I too have other hobbies than just updating the OCC Sports blog but I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Photo by Tony Lee]

The slideshow is around 2 minutes and 45 seconds but I promise it'll be worth it. Enjoy.

Yours truly will be taking pictures for the rest of the event and calling it a day on the blog.

A slideshow of the Coast Classic will be up in the near future. You can check all the stats on directathletics.com also in the near future.

EDIT
The final results of the track meet: http://www.directathletics.com/results/track/12336.html

Audrey Crouse
[In event 41, the women's poll vault, Crouse finished tied-first with OCC's own Lisa Dolan (10-06 feet).]

What do you like the most about track and field?
I like that it's both a team and an individual sport - it's just you versus the clock or you against your mark so there's no room for error but at the same time, you work as a team in practice because you push each other in practice.

What event did you do the best in and the worst in?
I actually did only one because I'm getting ready for next week (for the prelims). I met my personal record for the pole vault.

What's your goals for the prelims next week?
I hope to make it both in the poll vault and the 400-meter hurdles.

Do you have any superstitions or pregame rituals?
Yeah...actually I try to stay away from those because it gets in your head but I eat the same thing before each race.

And what are they?
Two pieces of wheat toast with jelly and two eggs. I definitely try to stay away from (superstitions) though.

What's your favorite type of music?
Depends on the mood; I could go for some Jack Johnson if I'm feeling mellow, some pump up music - rap - before the race...pretty much it.

What's your favorite subject in school?
Right now it's English 101. Before it was math because it wasn't my strong suit and I liked the challenge but now I think I found a nitch for creative writing.

And after track and field, what do you want to be?
I want to be a rep for Volcom or Burton.

[Photo by Tony Lee]

Event 10 (Heat 4) - Men's 400 meter dash

1) 50.59 - Deondray Williams (Los Angeles Southwest)
2) 53.27 - Michael Felts (Cuesta)
3) 53.54 - Francisco Calitui (Los Angeles Southwest)
4) 54.03 - Quinton Hughes (Moorpark)
5) 54.38 - Jeremy Lefebvre (Glendale CC)

Event 11 (Heat 1) - Women's 100 meter dash

1) 12.11 - Samantha Bogatz (Glendale)
2) 12.60 - Melani Artoun-Livask (Glendale)
3) 12.91 - Domineek Staten (Glendale CC)
4) 13.04 - Tierra Hunt (Cuyamaca)
5) 13.16 - Jeremy Lefebvre (Glendale CC)

Event 11 (Heat 2) - Women's 100 meter dash

1) 13.35 - Brittney Bates (San Mateo)
2) 13.44 - unknown
3) 13.52 - Clemesha Butler (Antelope Valley)
4) 13.69 - Margaret Mitchell (Long Beach)
5) 13.71 - Stephanique Brown (Long Beach)

Event 11 (Heat 3)- Women's 100 meter dash

1) 13.38 - Tianga Anthony (Long Beach)
2) 13.56 - Laniece Jackson (Long Beach)

Event 12 (Heat 1) - Men's 100 meter dash
1) 11.16 - Elijah Landry-Zapien (Orange Coast)
2) 11.18 - Mikio Bain (Glendale CC)
3) 11.31 - Mykel Block (San Mateo)
4) 11.35 - Michael Tarver (Cuyamaca)
5) 11.40 - Olatubosu Oshunluyi (Santa Monica)

Event 12 (Heat 2) - Men's 100 meter dash

1) 11.29 - Hassan Yusuf (San Mateo)
2) 11.34 - James Myers (Unattached)
3) 11.38 - (Cuyamaca)
4) 11.41 - (San Mateo)
5) 11.42 - (Cuyamaca)

Event 12 (Heat 3) - Men's 100 meter dash

1) 11.34- Donovan Toban (Orange Coast)
2) 11.41 - Joshua Stewart (West Los Angeles)
3) 11.57 - Gerzain Pineda (Orange Coast)
4) 11.57 - Rory Rodriguez (Orange Coast)
5) 11.64 - Will Frazier (San Mateo)

Event 36 - Men's long jump

1) 24-07.50 - Ryan Butts (Antelope Valley)
2) 22-11.00 - Donovan Toban (Orange Coast)
3) 22-04.00 - Bobby Workman (Long Beach City)
4) 21-11.75 - Eric Roberson (San Mateo)
5) 21-08.25 - Alex Danzler (Cuesta)

Event 6 (Heat 2) - Women's 100 meter hurdles

1) 15.85 - Liana Fuentes (Orange Coast)
2) 16.29 - Starasia Childs (West Los Angeles)
3) 16.96 - Brianna Vanderwal (Orange Coast)
4) 17.94 - Geornisha Epps (Cuyamaca)
5) 18.29 - Sibella Salazar (Antelope Valley)

Event 7 (Heat 1) - Men's 1500 meter run

1) 3:59.94 - Johan Appell (Unattached)
2) 4:00.95 - Brian Locher (Unattached)
3) 4:03.28 - Ruben Martinez (Rio Hondo)
4) 4:03.90 - Mike Hartanov (Vanguard)
5) 4:04.10 - David Cummings (Fullerton)

Event 9 (Heat 2) - Women's 400 meter dash

1) 1:00.89 - Shameka Alexander (Antelope Valley)
2) 1:02.37 - Kaylee Leadley (Vanguard)
3) 1:04.40 - Kendra Deslo (Glendale CC)

Event 9 (Heat 3) - Women's 400 meter dash

1) 1:05.70 - Kristina Medal (Antelope Valley)
2) 1:08.34 - Jennifer Mangus (Antelope Valley)
3) 1:09.22 - Anavil Reyes (Rio Hondo)
4) 1:10.74 - Elizabeth Iberti (Santa Barbara)
5) 1:20.30 - Ratnavali Anderson (Santa Monica)

Event 27 - Women's shot put

1) 42-08 feet - Christine Weinrech (Cuesta)
2) 39-07 feet - Kelly Young (San Mateo)
3) 39-06 feet - Latifah Felton (Glendale CC)
4) 36-04 feet - Riki delaPuente (Orange Coast)
5) 33-11 feet - Valerie Gee (Cuesta)

Event 38 - Men's discus throw

1) 143-07 feet - Kellen Dion (Cuyamaca)
2) 139-10 feet - Luis Guzman (Santa Ana)
3) 137-03 feet - Derek Harrebomee (Cuyamaca)
4) 133-08 feet - Robert Gutierez (Santa Ana)
5) 132-01 feet - Eric Grunbaum (Orange Coast)

[Photos by Tony Lee]

Event 4 (Heat 2) - Men's 4x100 meter relay

1) 43.46 - Cuesta
2) 43.48 - Santa Monica
3) 44.16 - Los Angeles Southwest
4) 44.56 - Glendale
5) 45.56 - Los Angeles Valley

Event 5 (Heat 1) - Women's 1500 meter run

1) 4:42.50 - Cassie Mitchell (Orange Coast)
2) 4:57.65 - Katie Dunn (Glendale)
3) 4:57.78 - Justina Saduskaite (Glendale)
4) 4:59.50 - Rosa Del Toro (Glendale)
5) 5:01.85 - Teri Mitchell (Orange Coast)

Event 5 (Heat 2) - Women's 1500 meter run

1) 5:02.79 - Michelle Thompson (5:02.79)
2) 5.10.57 - Sarah Swanson (5:10.57)
3) 5:10.75 - MELISSA Cortes (5:10.75)
4) 5.18.87 - Christine Tellez (5:18.87)
5) 5:20.97 - Paoma Ontiveros (5:20.97)

Event 6 (Heat 1) - Women's 100 meter hurdles

1) 14.85 - Tyra Porter (Glendale CC)
2) 15.24 - Sylvia Albonia (Los Angeles Valley)
3) 15.47 - Katrina Torres (Cuesta)
4) 15.52 - Turquoise Williams (West Los Angeles)
5) 15.99 - Nairobi Regis (West Los Angeles)

Event 28 - Men's shot put

1) 46-03 feet - Eric Grunbaum (Orange Coast)
2) 45-10 feet - Mitchell Short (Cuesta)
3) 45-09 feet - Derek Harrenbomee (Cuyamaca)
4) 43-11 feet - Elissa Jamil (Cuyamaca)
5) 41-02 feet - Kellen Pion (Cuyamaca)

Event 30 - Men's high jump

1) 6-03 - Matt Murray (Glendale CC)
2) J6-03 - Daro Johnsn (Citrus)
3) 6-00 - Chris Tomas (Glendale CC)
4) J6-00 - Tyler Hinson (Long Beach)
4) J6-00 - Lovelle Starks (West Los Angeles)

Event 34 - Men's javelin throw

1) 170-06 feet - Brian Norton (Orange Coast)
2) 166-10 feet - Ben Hanner (Cuesta)
3) 166-04 feet - Russel Randall (Soka)
4) 165-07 feet - Stephan Ruby (Orange Coast)
5) 159-03 feet - Kellen Dion (Cuyamaca)

Event 41 - Women's poll valut

1) 10-06.00 feet - Lisa Dolan (Orange Coast)
1) 10-06.00 feet - Audrey Crouse (Orange Coast)
3) 10-00.00 feet - Jessica Clees (Orange Coast)
4) 9-06.00 feet - Heidi Morehouse (Vanguard)
5) 9-06.00 feet - Nicole Worden (Cuesta)

Event 1 - Women's 3000 meter steeplechase

1) 11:19.68 - Zitalic Ley (Glendale)
2) 11:47.24 - Angelina Gonzalez (Glendale)
3) 11:50.75 - Chelsea Van Cott (Vanguard)
4) 11:54.58 - Bridgette Fernandez (Glendale)
5) 12:08.12 - Andrea Guerra - (Orange Coast)

Event 2 - Men's 3000 meter steeplechase

1) 9:38.24 - Mike Dennman (San Diego Mesa)
2) 9:45.60 - Jonathan Alpizar (Glendale)
3) 9:50.58 - Francisco Quijada (Glendale)
4) 9:58.06 - Matt Johnson (Vanguard)
5) 10:09.37 - Ragan Grego (Orange Coast)

Event 3 - Women's 4x100 meter relay
1) 48.24 - Glendale
2) 49.81 - Glendale CC
3) 51.13 - Los Angeles Valley
4) 51.16 - Long Beach
5) 51.37 - Orange Coast

Event 4 (Heat 1) - Men 4x100 meter relay
1) 42.44 - Orange Coast
2) 42.56 - San Mateo
3) 43.11 - Glendale CC
4) 43.53 - Cuyamaca

Event 35 - Women's long jump
1) 17-04.25 feet - Turquoise Williams (West Los Angeles)
2) 17-02.00 feet - Nairobi Regis (West Los Angeles)
3) 16-10.00 feet - Starasia Childs (West Los Angeles)
4) 16-08.50 feet - Britney Clark (Glendale CC)
5) 16-06.25 feet - Kristina Burns (Unattached)

The Coast Classic is underway at the Orange Coast College track.





Scoring updates are coming up soon.

[Photos by Tony Lee]