One of the elite sprinters in PCC track and field history, Bobby Poynter started his association with PCC while at PHS when he was the CIF Southern Section Athlete of the Year in 1956.  He set the state meet record of 21.0 seconds in the 220-yard dash and led PHS to the state team championship. As a member of the PCC track and field team in 1957, Poynter won the 220 state title (21.2) and was second in the 100 (9.6). In 1959 at San Jose State University, he achieved a ranking of No. 2 in the nation in the 200 meters and No. 3 in the 100. He was NCAA runner-up in both the 100 and 220 events.