Ballentine Finishes Sixth in Decathlon at UCR Spring Track Classic

By Mari Kneisel/COC Sports Information

RIVERSIDE —College of the Canyons freshman decathlete Matthew Ballentine was the sole entrant for the Cougars at the UC Riverside Spring Track Classic over the weekend.

Ballentine placed sixth overall in the two-day event, racking up a total of 5,200 points, while competing against a field that consisted of two athletes representing four-year universities, two from community colleges and three competing unattached to any school.  

The Saugus High School graduate who also starred on the COC football team back in the fall, was competing in his first collegiate decathlon.

Ballentine took first place in the javelin (50.90m / 167' 0") and fourth in the 1500m (4:59.98) to highlight his day.

His mark in the javelin met the CCCAA 'A' standard and currently ranks fourth in Southern California and sixth in the state.

He also recorded fifth place finishes in the shot put (10.96m / 35' 11.5") and high jump events (1.72m / 5'7 .75"), and three sixth-place results in the long jump (5.83m / 19' 1.5"), 400m (54.78), and 100h (20.05). 

He later finished seventh in both the discus (25.18m / 82' 7") and the pole vault (2.85m / 9' 4.25") and took eighth in the 100m (11.56). 

Ballentine's overall score of 5,200 is the No. 6 mark in the Southern California region. 

Upcoming Schedule
Ballentine will next compete at the SoCal Hep/Dec Championships April 5-6 at El Camino College. The top six finishers from that evebt will then move on to compete at the CCCAA State Championship meet in May.

The Cougars will continue with Western State Conference (WSC) Meet No. 2 at 1 p.m. Friday, April 1 at Bakersfield College. Canyons will then compete at the annual Mt. SAC Relays on Saturday, April 9. 

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. 

—Photo by Lindie Kane/COC Track & Field