Brian Nnoli saved his best for last on Friday with a 14.42-meter leap that earned him his sixth triple jump title of the season in the SBCC Easter Open track and field meet. Nnoli, who finished third in the state last year, is 6-0 this season.
The 6-4 sophomore from San Marcos High had already leapt a season-best 14.35m on his third attempt. Then he went a little further -- 14.42 or 47 feet, 3.75 inches -- on his last try.
"My marks hadn't been as good as I'd wanted and I was hoping to go farther today," said Nnoli. "I like the phases of triple jumping and being in the air for that long. Having good speed on the runway is important and so is having a good landing."
Nnoli won the WSC title last year and jumped a PR of 14.53m in the state meet at Bakersfield College last May. That's just 4.25 inches farther than he jumped on Friday.
"I'm hoping to PR this year and place better in the state," he said.
Sean Fitzgerald, a freshman from Half Moon Bay, won the 400 hurdles in 57.81, edging Cuesta's Zach Hicks by a tenth of a second.
John Esteban Carlos tied for fourth in the shot put (12.43m, 40-9.50), Nicolas Murillo-Perez was fifth in the 100 in 11.28 and Nathan Brooks was sixth in the 100 (11.32).
The Vaqueros will host the WSC Prelims next Friday at La Playa Stadium, starting at 11 a.m.