Bradley Apodaca captured the 5000 in a season-best 15:42.68 on Thursday and seven teammates also recorded season bests in the toughest meet of the season at the Cal State L.A. Twilight Open.
The men's track and field meet featured NCAA Div. 1 and 2 teams from across the country as well as top athletes from Brazil, Nigeria and Trinidad & Tobago.
"Our distance runners had a strong day with three top-3 finishes," noted Vaquero coach Scott Fickerson.
Apodaca, a sophomore from Santa Barbara High, beat Cal State L.A.'s Daniel Zaragoza-Rincon by nearly 11 seconds. Patrick Lownes-Santos was third in the 800 in a season-best 1:58.74 and Alex Ramirez took third in the 1500 in 4:06.97.
Cameron Shinn placed second in the triple jump with a season-best 13.99 meters (45-10 3/4) and 11th in the long jump at 6.43 meters (21-1¼). Robert Roberson had a season-best 1.90 leap in the high jump and Diego Tapia also notched a season-best hammer throw of 39.55 meters.
Adam Grimmitt was second in the 3000 steeplechase in 10:02.30.
Kyle Whitaker had a pair of season bests in the 100 (11.49) and pole vault (4.12 meters, 13-6¼). Max Schrock was fourth in the pole vault at the same height and Whitaker was fifth.
Deshawn Phelps turned in a season-best 11.54 in the 100 meters. Anton Nilsson was 10th in the 400 at 50.38.
The Vaqueros will compete in the WSC Prelims on Friday at Canyons.