Sometimes one has to leap into uncharted territory, or in this case, sand. Wildcat of the Week Isaiah Roybal did on Saturday, competing in the high jump for his first time as a collegian, and the Chico State men’s track and field team might have stumbled upon some buried treasure.
Roybal won the long jump at the season-opening Kim Duyst Invitational at Stanislaus State with a leap of 7.12 meters, which is longer than any Wildcat leapt all of last season and only .18 meters outside of the program’s all-time top 10.
It also put him into the early California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) lead in the event. Last season, only four athletes in the CCAA posted a better jump.
The senior sprinter also ran a leg of the Wildcats’ winning 4x400-meter relay team on a promising opening weekend of track and field for the Wildcats.
Local fans will have a rare opportunity to see Roybal and the rest of the Wildcats compete at home this weekend when Chico State hosts the day-long Wildcat Invitational Saturday at University Track Stadium.
Roybal, who already has already set one new personal-record this season, will try to set another personal standard in the 100 meters. He enters the campaign with a PR of 10.89 in the event. He is also scheduled to compete in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays and the long jump.
