SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- The Pioneer men's track team traveled across the Bay to compete at the SF State Distance Carnival on Friday. Over 30 schools from across the West region, including Hawaii, participated in the Carnival, and numerous meet records fell. For the Pioneers, several athletes set season or personal best times against Division I, II, and Junior College programs.

Daniel Damien ran a season best time of 10:03.02 and finished 4th overall in the 2-Mile Run. Damien beat four runners from the Cal Poly Distance Club and a competitor from CCAA rival Cal State Monterey Bay.

Gavin Ramos ran personal best times in both the 800 (2:01.87) and the 1500 (4:08.89). In the 800, Ramos placed 54th out of 72 runners and finished ahead of three Division I competitors, as well as two runners from the CCAA.

Jose Mejia-Gonzalez ran a personal best of 34:45.65 in the 10,000. Other competitors for the Pioneers were Will Weekes, who ran 4:05.60 in the 1500, Orlando Ramirez, who ran 2:08.20 in the 800, and Anthony Gaines, who competed in the 100.

"After today I feel really confident about the future of our men's program with the guys we have competing for us,” Pioneer Head Coach Ralph Jones said. "Jose Mejia-Gonzalez is one of the toughest young men I have coached and just battles through all his races. Daniel Damian is a fierce competitor and gets better every week. I look forward to watching him continue to grow as an athlete and as a young man. I was extremely proud today in the performance of Gavin Ramos, who has been having a rough couple weeks, but today put two races together that really gives us something to build on. He showed a lot of character today and is starting to understand what it takes to be a Pioneer."