FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fred Baer
(650) 483-3733
baerf@smccd.edu

State Sprint Champ Liao Opens 2020 Track Season with Pacesetting 400 Meter Win

Defending state sprint champion Yan-Jun “Sophie” Liao made an auspicious 2020 debut for College of San Mateo with an easy win at 400 meters in 59.70 seconds at the Monterey Peninsula Open Track Invitational Saturday. It is the top early season California Community College mark — by nearly two seconds.

Liao won the 2019 California Community College state titles at CSM in the 100 meters (11.65) and 200 meters (24.64), running in the rain. Liao’s previous 400 meters best as a community college athlete was 59.74 at the 2019 CSM Mini Meet on April 5.

Liam Laughlin highlighted CSM men’s efforts at Monterey with a javelin throw of 50.00 meters, 164-feet to win by 2 1/2 feet over Aries Harris of Fresno City College. Those are the top two Northern California marks this season. Nickolas Poelinger of San Mateo placed sixth at 128 feet, 6 inches. Liam was also sixth in the shot put (41-6).

CSM’s Gerasimo Kondaris was the top men’s community college pole vaulter, finishing second overall at 12 feet, 11 1/2 inches.

The early season meet featured community college and open athletes from throughout Northern California, along with four-year college athletes from Cal State Monterey Bay.