MERCED, Calif. – Five Bobcats will represent University of California, Merced at the NAIA Men's Outdoor Track & Field National Championships from May 21-23 in Marion, Ind.
Jonathan Chavez will compete in two events, including the 1500m for the second consecutive year. Chavez is also the Bobcats final leg of the 4x800m relay squad. Sharvin Manjrekar, Cole Rommelfanger, and Jalen Morales join Chavez in the relay. Manjrekar has previous experience on the national stage in the 3000m steeplechase and 1500m.
Martel Fields is the Bobcats first sprinter in program history to compete at the national meet and the sophomore is set for the 200m dash.
All three UC Merced entries set program-records this season and won gold at the California Pacific Conference Championships.
Chavez currently hold's the eighth fastest 1500m time in the country with a 3:48.90 that he set at Bryan Clay Invitational. A week later, he won the 1500m Cal Pac title for the third consecutive season on his way to being named the Cal Pac Track Male Athlete of the Year.
The 4x800m relay team won the Cal Pac title and shattered the program-record in 7:36.82.
Fields ran a program-record 21.21 in the Cal Pac 200m prelims before winning gold in 21.40.
WATCH | LIVE RESULTS
Wednesday, May 21
1:10pm PST – 1500m Prelims (Advancement: Top 4 finishers from each heat, plus next 4 fastest times advance to final)
2:35pm PST – 200m Prelims (Advancement: Top finisher from each heat, plus next 5 fastest times)
3:50pm PST – 4X800m Prelims (Advancement: Top finisher from each heat, plus next 5 fastest times)
Thursday, May 22
3:30pm PST – 4X800m Final
Friday, May 23
11:10am PST – 1500m Final
1:20pm PST – 200m Final