ANTELOPE VALLEY COLLEGE NOTEBOOK: ATHLETES ADVANCE IN TRACK.

Byline: Nathan Brown Staff Writer

Antelope Valley College's track and field team had a strong showing at the Foothill Conference prelims Tuesday at Marauder Stadium and hopes for another in the conference finals Saturday in San Diego.

``Everyone that we hoped would advance did,'' coach Mark Covert said. ``All in all, it was a pretty good day, and we should be ready to go on Saturday.''

The surprise was the performance of men's throwers Nick Miconi and Harry Robinson, who finished 1-2 in the hammer throw. Both exceeded their previous bests this season by about 20 feet. Miconi won the conference title with a throw of 146 feet, 3 inches; Robinson's distance was 141-2.

``We thought that (Miconi and Robinson) would get up to the top four,'' Covert said. ``But they both had big days.''

Miconi's and Robinson's success has helped in the absence of injured Nick Saylor. Saylor threw a team best 156-4 on March 11.

Tamisha Jefferson won the women's high jump, clearing 5-10 1/4, and Jose Burrola won a heat in the 800 meters in 2 minutes, 1.36 seconds.

``The main thing is we want the kids to be alive for another week,'' Covert said. ``Right now, it's one week at a time.''

AVC standout Krystal Quinn will be tested Saturday in the women's 400 meters and pole vault after suffering an ankle sprain last week during vaulting practice.

Quinn has run a school-record 57.32 in the 400 meters and is seven inches off the pole vault record of 11-7.

--Sacrificial record: Freshman shortstop Tayler Wilson broke the school softball record for sacrifice hits in a season. Tayler, who has 15 with three games remaining, eclipsed Monica Tantlinger's total, 12, set in 2002.

--Courting the NFL: Running back DeAndra Cobb, who played football at Antelope Valley College and Michigan State, is rated among the top 30 running backs by several sources heading into this weekend's NFL Draft.

Cobb, who is 5-foot-9, 196 pounds, impressed scouts with a 4.48 40-yard time in the NFL combine, but his size won't make him a high pick.

Cobb was Michigan State's top rusher last season, gaining 728 yards on 96 carries (7.6 yards per), scoring four touchdowns, one a 72-yarder.

Nathan Brown, [phone]

nate.brown(at)dailynews.com

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(color) Former Antelope Valley College running back DeAndra Cobb could hear his name called during the NFL Draft this weekend.

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