MCC takes 'Classic'
Top spots won in discus and shot put
Lee Kauftheil
Mesa Legend

MCC’s track teams, both men and women, have proven to be tough competition in their region I conference this season.
The women’s team stands second in the league and the men are ranked third.
The men and women are coached together by a group of experienced coaches. Head track coach Steve Jacobs has been coaching MCC’s team for over 10 years and is a former Olympic competitor. Selmer Olson coaches throwing and is recognized by Jacobs as “one of the best throwing coaches around.”
MCC held its annual Mesa Classic April 9 at MCC. The event was attended by close to 600 athletes from around the country. Some local schools participated such as Scottsdale Community College and ASU. Others came from as far as Florida and Utah. Jacobs said that he expected most of his team to qualify for nationals at the Mesa Classic.
MCC’s track field was designed by Jacobs. Olson said it was one of the best in the country and noted that other teams are in awe when they see the throwing field.
MCC made its strongest showings in the shot-put and discus-throwing events. Sheldon Battle and Shawn Best both stood out at the meet; the athletes are ranked as two of the best throwers in the league. Battle took first place in the throwing events with a throw of 58’9”. Best took third with a throw of 55’6”.
Olson noted that Arizona gets some of the best throwers in the country because of the weather that allows athletes to train all year.
This year the women’s team is not as strong as it has been in the past according to Olson, but he stated that he will have a few strong candidates next year. Jacobs said that the women’s track team is very strong this year with their 5-1 record. He noted Courtney Schooley as one of the most solid players on the team and Caron Mah as one of the top pole-vaulters in the country.
The women made a good showing during the 100-meter hurdles with a third-place finish by Becky Brown with 13.6 seconds, only six tenths of a second behind the best time of 14.2. The women’s team also claimed third place in the four-by-one hundred relay and took another third place in the four-by-four hundred.
When not in competition, the team practices five days a week. To practice for throwing events, the team meets all week to work on technique for two hours a day and lifts weights every other day for two hours.
Battle said he has been doing the shot put since eighth grade, when he grew too big to compete in the running events. He said that Olson “really knows his stuff; he has a good attitude, does good work. He knows how hard to push, when to push, and has a good system.” Battle said he hoped to get his throws to 63 feet by the end of the year.
Jacobs said technique is a big part of the training for all of the players and that he has much confidence in all of the coaches.

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