Daniela Ramirez graduated from Seaside High School in 2018 and was recruited to Hartnell College for cross country and track & field but the timing was not right. She would begin her education and athletics at Monterey Peninsula College and remain there through spring 2021. The global pandemic helped save her seasons of eligibility and when she had completed her AA degree from MPC, she sought out Hartnell College Head Coach Chris Zepeda for a second chance at being a Panther.
Daniela joined the squad in fall 2021 thanks to an emergency legislation that allowed community college athletes transfer without the residency requirement and also since she had completed her degree enroll part-time and be able to compete. Daniela enjoyed a terrific fall with the Panthers placing among the top seven on multiple occasions starting the the Norcal Preview Meet. She would travel with the team to the historic Mt. SAC Invitational and produce one of her best performances of the season almost beating the eventual state champion Mounties on their home course. Daniela would earn her first All-Coast Conference honor placing twelfth in a lifetime best at Toro Park.
On the track in the spring, she lowered all her personal bests. Daniela placed eighth in both the conference 5000m and 10,000m with her 19:55 being the first time she had ever eclipsed the 20 minute barrier. Her championship performances gave her the opportunity to join her teammates at her first ever Northern California Track & Field Championship where the Panthers would be the eventual team winner for the third championship in a row.
Daniela will now join a growing program at Menlo College which is a member of the Cal Pac Conference and competes under the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Original source can be found here.
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