CLAREMONT, Calif. - Justin Ellerbee notched a provisional qualifying mark in the pole vault Saturday at the Rossi Relays in Claremont, leading the Cal Poly Pomona men's track and field team to a strong performance in its season opener.

After competing at the 2013 NCAA Division II National Championships in Pueblo, Colo., Ellerbee got the 2014 campaign off to a stellar start with a pole vault height of 15-11.25. That eclipses the "B" provisional of 15-7.25 and it earned Ellerbee a first-place finish at the meet Saturday.

David Perez, a junior transfer from Mt. SAC, put together an impressive Bronco debut in the javelin when he took second at Saturday's meet. He posted a mark of 183-2, which places him eighth on the CPP all-time list for that event.

Aiden Irish, who helped the Broncos' cross country team place eighth nationally in 2013, raced to a time of 8:33.60 in Saturday's 3,000-meter event. That earned him second place among the Rossi Relay competitors.

The CPP 4x100 relay team of Robert Weathers, James Weiner, Gabriel Wirtz and Louis Martin III finished third on Saturday with a 41.86 time. The Broncos were only topped by a national team from Venezuela and conference challenger Cal State L.A.

Martin also raced well in the 100-meter dash, recording a time of 10.85 to place seventh. Kyle Goodenough, a 2013 All-Conference honoree, placed sixth in the long jump Saturday with a 22-1 distance.

The Broncos will return to action next Saturday, March 1, as they'll host the Pomona Preview Meet at Mt. San Antonio College. The CPP seniors will be recognized in a ceremony at the start of the meet.