The Sacramento State track and field and cross country team has found a new spirit this year.

Five school records were broken last meet alone, and have earned the Hornets notoriety as one of the best programs in the Big Sky Conference.

For the men, junior Jeffrey Paneda, junior Jody Johnson and sophomore Dominic Vogl each broke their own school records. Paneda broke his mile time set earlier this year by four seconds at 4:12.64. Johnson ran a blazing 6.76 in the 60-meter dash, the fastest in the Big Sky this season. Vogl ran 8:38.35 in the 3k, breaking his old time by three seconds.

For the women, freshman Ericka Violett smashed the previous pole vault record by nearly a foot with a mark of 12-06.00. Senior Michelle Garcia ran a 10:00.06 in the 3K, breaking the prior record by four seconds set by Melissa Madison in 2001. “Garcia is running the best of her life, and Paneda is showing his full talents,” said Director of Track and Field Kathleen Raske, “I know my team very well, and you know who’s going to have a great season. I’m excited to see them compete.”

“Paneda’s ability to adapt to distance has been a pleasant surprise,” said Rodney Rothoff, head cross country coach/assistant track coach. “He ran the 800 in (communtiy college), and he comes here and sets the school record in his first collegiate mile.”

Both the men’s and women’s team’s strengths are sprints, jumps and hurdles. With returning Big Sky Champion seniors Chauncey Corbin in the 200, Raphael McFarlane in the long jump, Roshena Duree in the 100-hurdles and Melissa Tracey in the 400-hurdles, the outlook is good.

Senior Nancy Searcy and junior Tyreina Henley- Henderson red shirted last season and should be great additions to the team. Searcy has already set the school record this season in the 60-hurdles with a time of 8.47 and has qualified for the Big Sky Championships in the 200, 60 and long jump. Henderson, a two-time All-Big Sky Conference selection qualified in the 200.

“There are some holes on the team in women’s high jump and the 5,000 meters. The men have some holes in throws, and longer distances,” said Raske. “We still have done a really good job improving in those areas. The team is very strong overall.”

The Big Sky is extremely competitive in distance running, Coach Raske said. She feels good about the new young talent brought in and hopes this will be the year to break into scoring places in a tough conference.

“The season is going really good,” said Brooklynn Solomon, senior middle-distance runner. “We are going to have our highest team finish ever. We have really good training, and our times have dropped drastically.”

The improvement of the program has come from within. Recruiting has panned out and athletes have developed up to coaches’ expectations. The change has sprung from different coaching strategies and teammates’ enthusiasm to help one another.

“This year we are more committed and focused on trying to get the job done,” said Anais Castillo-Springer, senior middle-distance runner.

With a lot of returning athletes, coaches know each individual better, and the athletes know what to expect from their coaches. The coaching staff is close as well, creating good fellowship throughout the team.

“We have a lot of team unity. That always helps on any team,” said Paneda. “Going into the outdoor season, you know a lot of people have your back.”

Other school records set so far this season are in the men’s pole vault by junior Daniel Imlach at 17-00.75 and junior Robert Brazier in the heptathlon with a score of 4,781 — 120 points better than his prior best.

The distance team is the best it’s ever been at Sac State, Rothoff said. The athletes as a whole are starting to fully understand their potential and how to compete and setting personal bests on a regular basis. That competition amongst teammates only makes everyone better.

“We strive for perfection,” Garcia said. “We’re always competing for a spot on the relay team, too.”

The Hornet’s next meet will be the Big Sky Indoor Championships on Friday and Saturday in Bozeman, Mont.

Galen Kusic can be reached at [email protected]