February 2, 2016
Vikings are smart and swift
Diablo Valley track and field coach Kyle Whitmore and his staff are excited to have complete men's and women's teams with all the disciplines covered.
Moreover, several student-athletes are on track to receive their AA degree at the end of the spring.
The men's team boasts Francisco Hurtado (Pittsburg), a returning CCCAA state finalist in the 400-meter hurdles and in 4x400 relay. Hurtado was fourth in the 400 hurdles at the 2015 Northern California Community College Championships in a time 54.33 seconds, but the top three finishers were all sophomores.
Football punter Jacob DeMaio (Monte Vista), a strong sprinter, is back after competing in the state meet in the 4x100 relay. The Vikings men's 4x100 relay team finished an excellent second at the NorCal meet in a time of 41.05, after winning its preliminary heat in 41.99.
Big 8 cross country meet champion Kin Wong is returning in the 5K and 10K.
On the women's side, Katie Embody (Castro Valley) returns in the 1,500 and the 5K. She looked good in cross country at DVC in the fall.
"I think once again we'll be strong in the middle distances like we were last year individually, and in both the relays, and this time for the men and the women," Whitmore said.
Whitmore knows his way around the track as a former NorCal finalist in the 400 hurdles with Contra Costa College. He also played football at UC Davis.
After "soft" season openers at Hartnell-Salinas, beginning on Saturday, the entire squad will kick off the season at Chabot Feb. 26 in a NorCal Preview meet.