Bakersfield College Track and Field is sending seven athletes to the State Championships Friday May 2oth and Saturday May 21st, 2016. 

"We are proud of everyone who qualified," Coach Pam Kelley said, "It's not easy to do. The South is very tough, and just qualifying for the state meet is a big deal." 

Marilyn Quintero qualified for the Women's Discus with a mark of 39.90 meters. 

"Marilyn is a special kid. She commutes from Porterville every day and she doesn't get done with her responsibilities on campus until 7 or 8pm every night, and then she drives to Porterville and does it all over again the next day," Kelley said. 

Quintero's work is paying big dividends beyond qualifying for State. 

"She (Quintero) has an offer on the table from Southern Arkansas University, so we'll see what she decides," Coach Kelley added. 

Kyra Saunders qualified in two events; the Women's Long Jump with a mark of 5.06 meters, and the Women's 4 x 100 with her sister Tyra Saunders, and teammates Kassidy Murphy and Emagee Tyler with a mark of 47.72. 

"The 4 x 100 is all about how quickly you get the baton through the (handoff) zone. To have a great run, eveyrthing needs to go perfectly, and we are talking about hundredths of a second, so that's tough to do," Kelley explained, "And these ladies are chasing the school record set last year by the Saunders', Nicole Lewis, and Zariah Marr of 47.45 seconds." 

That isn't the only school record that BC Track is gunning for. 

Tyra Saunders set a new school record in the 100 Meter Dash on her way to qualifying for the State Championships with a blazing fast 11.91 time. 

"The record she (Tyra Saunders) broke was almost twenty years old. It was set by Alisha Harrison at the State Meet in Fresno in 1997 with a time of 11.98. Harrison had already won the long jump, triple jump, and 100 Meter Hurdles before she'd set that record," Kelley said. 

But she thinks Tyra might have a better time to unleash still. 

"The 100 (meter dash) is really tough up North. This is the toughest field I've ever seen since I started coaching at BC in 1982," Kelley said, "She's going to have to step it up a bit. But she felt she had a bad start in her record-setting run, but she really poured it on in the last 50 meters. If she has a sound run, we think she can finish in the top four." 

Thrower Dillen Littles has already committed to Humboldt State University on a scholarship for his football and track skills, but first he'll compete in the Men's Discus Throw (46.74 meter seed mark) and the Men's Shotput (15.39 meter seed mark). 

"There is significant interest from four-year schools in all of these athletes who have qualified, and there could be even more after state," Kelley said. 

Jacob Bookout might be the most intriguing of the bunch. He's a second-generation Renegade who's mother also competed at BC, and he qualified for State with a 1.97 meter jump in the Men's High Jump. 

"He's capable of higher, but we changed his approach going into the Southern California Prelims," Kelley said, "And what afforded us the opportunity to do that? He already had the "A Standard", so he was going to qualify for State anyway. We lengthened his approach to give him more speed at the bar. It will increase his height if he can execute it." 

The State Championship Meet will be held this Friday and Saturday, May 20th and 21st, at San Diego-Mesa College. 

For live results, follow BC Track and Field on Twitter @backtrk and Bakersfield College Athletics  @gogadesgo.