California State Championships

---A seventh place finish at the California State Championships on Saturday did not meet our expectations as a team; however, I applauded the girls after the race on their efforts the last six months. The girls, collectively, were truly disappointed, which is heartening to me because it shows they care about performance, not just participating. Cross Country is no different than your expectations as a parent when a report card arrives in the mail. Mama Clemons and myself have expectations for our team based on our observations throughout the season, we expected to perform better, and we did not. That being said, the process has been a joy, a wonderful group of girls to be around, and I am sad it is over.

California State Cross Country Championships

---Dani Brabender, Aaren Cadieux, Kamilah Foley, Kora Johnson, Justine Rea, Makenna Smith, and Jessica Varela will represent our girls' cross country program at the California State Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 28, at Woodward Park in Fresno. This is the third consecutive season we have reached Fresno, I expect a fourth next season, and this is our goal each and every season.

C.I.F. Division 1 Cross Country Finals

---Dani Brabender, Kamilah Foley, Kora Johnson, Shelby Niles, Justine Rea,
Makenna Smith, and Jessica Varela will represent our program Saturday in the
C.I.F. Division 1 Cross Country Finals at Mt. San Antonio College. Our goal
is to win the 9:45am race, with the greatest challenges coming from Great
Oak(Temecula Valley), Dana Hills, and Warren(Downey). Wish us well, and good
luck to the boys also, who also have a realistic chance of winning.
---6:30am bus tomorrow, any freshman, sophomore, or junior under 21.20 at
Sea View League Finals is required to attend, all others are invited, and we
will return at 1:00pm. Please bring $5 and a student I.D. for admission.

C.I.F. Division 1 Cross Country Preliminaries

---Kudos to the girls' performance at last Saturday's C.I.F. Division 1
Cross Country Preliminaries, placing five in the top nine, scoring 34
points, and easily winning our heat. On to Finals, and my goal is for our
team to win, plain and simple. Tough task ahead of us; however, the girls
will be ready.
---A huge thank you to the girls who boarded the 6:30am. bus and supported
our efforts. Same thing this Saturday, any freshman, sophomore, or junior
under 21.20 at Sea View League Finals are required to attend, and everyone
else is invited.

Sea View League championships

A huge kudos to the girls' cross country team for capturing Sea View League
championships on all three levels: Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Frosh-Soph.
The girls ran well to say the least. One of my favorite things to do is to
compare times from 2008 to 2009, same course such as today. The following
girls ran significantly better from 2008 to 2009 during Sea View League
Finals at Irvine Regional Park on the same exact course: Kamilah
Foley(18.10-17.20), Justine Rea(18.38-17.24), Makenna Smith(18.40-17.12),
Shelby Niles(18.45-17.54), Jessica Varela(19.59-18.00), Kora
Johnson(19.09-17.33), Dani Brabender(19.39-17.31)...(10.06 for the Seven
Varsity Girls, an average of 1.27 faster)...Aaren Cadieux(18.58-18.07),
Amanda Lee(20.23-19.23), Lauren Moore(20.27-19.31), Amy
Tolentino(20.56-18.44), Alyza Rathor(20.23-19.33), Alex Reich(20.26-19.20),
Melanie Driessen(21.14-19.07), Jocelyn Dorame(21.31-20.44), Allison
Perry(22.29-20.53), Brooke Kather(19.09-18.45), Olivia Smith(22.57-21.31),
Dana Gersten(23.05-21.28), Emily Berg(23.05-19.50), Karen
Ascencio(23.35-20.52), Tiffani Barham(24.05-19.32, #1, WOW!), Crystal
Eng(24.32-22.08), Molly McClary(25.07-23.16), and Jessica
Stewart(25.44-22.56). Again, congratulations to all who ran and contributed
to team victories on all levels. Race winners were Aaren Cadieux(JV) and
Brooke Kather(FS), and our top freshman was Hannah Randall in a PR 19.35,
while four other freshmen broke 20.45, including Brianna Parish(20.19),
Rachel Stillman(20.25), Madison Schuetz(20.28), and Stephanie Lowe(20.37)
Thank You for a great day, a wonderful season...quite a ride. Mama Clemons
and myself are proud to be your coaches. On to CIF and State.

Mt Sac.

---We ran well yesterday at Mt. SAC, the varsity finishing fifth in a stellar field, defeating Dana Hills and accumulating the top team time in Orange County. Makenna Smith continued a super individual season running
17.39 at Mt. SAC, shattering the school record by 23 seconds. Dani Brabender(18.29, a PR at Mt. SAC by over 2 minutes), Kora Johnson(18.29, a
1.54 improvement from 2008), and Justine Rea(18.39, a 46 second improvement from 2008), all ran well.
---The Junior Varsity National Championship 22-team race saw us record the second fastest team time overall, and we finished second in Division 1. The race pitted team's second sevens that ran in either Sweepstake's races. Amy Tolentino(19.07, a 1.35 improvement from 2008), Aaren Cadieux(19.16, injured in 2008), Makenna McGrann(19.22, a 1.31 improvement), Shelby Niles(19.28, a
1.19 improvement), and Melanie Driessen(20.24, a 2.16 improvement) were our top five. Kudos to the team.
---Our freshmen team finished third led by Hannah Randall, and our sophomores were fourth, led by Tiffani Barham. Super efforts by all who competed.

Mt. Sac girls JV

Our girls JV placed five runners in the top 10 to win today's JV Open race at Mt. SAC. 30 teams and 250 runners took part in the race. Running for Trabuco were: Shareen Najjar, Jennifer Dorame, Katelyn Lockwood, Ashley Linder, Brittany Hernandez, Jenna Willey, Sarah Brewer and Riley Logsdon. Kudos!

GO BLUE!

Mt. SAC Preview

---Our Varsity seven for the Mt. SAC Team Sweepstakes race this weekend, generally regarded quality-wise as the best and deepest high school cross country team race in the country, will be Dani Brabender, Kamilah Foley, Kora Johnson, Shelby Niles(If Healthy), Justine Rea, Makenna Smith, and Jessica Varela. The Junior Varsity National Championship race team members will be: Tiffani Barham, Aaren Cadieux, Melanie Driessen, Brooke Kather, Makenna McGrann, Alexandra Reich, and Amy Tolentino. The J.V. race is one of a kind, pitting teams whose varsity runs Sweepstakes, insuring true second sevens, and recognition for the best second seven.

Orange County Cross Country Championships

---Our goals were to win all three levels yesterday: Frosh-Soph, Junior Varsity, and Varsity Sweepstakes, at the Orange County Cross Country Championships. Frosh-Soph placed four in the top twelve; however, it was not enough, and we lost 58-60 to Dana Hills. Junior Varsity destroyed the competition, winning easily. Our Varsity finished third to Orange Lutheran and Dana Hills, a disappointment to me, Mama Clemons, and the six girls who ran, because we all believed we could and would win, based on our training and past races. The one solace I do have is all of the girls were frustrated with themselves after the race, and talked about third not being good enough.
---Makenna Smith ran 17.13, a stellar time, and easily the fastest time in THHS history. Kudos, Makenna.

#1 ranking in Orange County and #2 in C.I.F.

---Kudos to our varsity team for their #1 ranking in Orange County and #2 in C.I.F. Division 1. Of course rankings are only rankings, and all this means is we have a target on our backs on Saturday. Three years ago we were the hunters in Orange County, now we are the hunted.

Fountain Valley Invitational

----Nice wins for our junior varsity and frosh-soph yesterday at Central Park in Huntington Beach, especially considering after our varsity seven, who did not run, nine of our next sixteen ranked girls either did not run or ran controlled efforts because of sickness and the SAT test. This is why I promote numbers on the team, currently 96, and will be over 100 next season.

---Our junior varsity was led by race winner Amy Tolentino, and our frosh-soph was led by race winner Makenna McGrann, who ran with a fractured thumb and numerous leg abrasions suffered at Sea View League Cluster.Tiffani Barham was our #5 runner on frosh-soph, a fact I ommitted yesterday.

---We now set our sights on the Orange County Cross Country Championships this Saturday at Irvine Regional Park. Our goal is to win all three levels:
Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Frosh-Soph. Can we? Yes. Will we? I do not know. The competition is formidable...Dana Hills, Esperanza, Orange Lutheran, San Clemente, and Corona Del Mar stand in our way on varsity; however, win or lose, we will be prepared, and the girls will be emotionally ready.

2009 Cluster Meet

Our varsity ran big yesterday: Dani Brabender, Kamilah Foley, Shelby Niles, Justine Rea, Makenna Smith, Jessica Varela...winning our league cluster easily. Rather than single girls out for commendations, I applaud the group effort. Kudos...

The varsity now sets their sights on the Orange County Cross Country Championships on Saturday, October 17. Those seven girls, announced at practice today and based on the season's results and yesterday in particular, will not race Saturday, and will practice hard on Friday at Coto De Caza Reservoir...1200 meter repeats. All others race on Saturday...5:30am bus.
Our Junior Varsity and Frosh-Soph both won yesterday, laying testament to numbers in the program.

In the junior varsity race, sophomore Kora Johnson(18.38) won the race easily, with junior Amy Tolentino(19.13), sophomore Alexandra Reich(19.30), and sophomore Brooke Kather(20.15) the next three finishers.

Our freshmen were led by Hannah Randall(20.35), Brittany Machulda(20.46), Chiara Burns(21.02), and Brianna Parish(21.15). Super efforts...

Stanford

---Off to Stanford, a paradox. Serene setting, intense cross country atmosphere...best of both worlds.
---Sweepstakes race-Dani Brabender, Aaren Cadieux, Kamilah Foley, Kora Johnson, Justine Rea, Makenna Smith, Jessica Varela...Varsity "B"
Team-Brooke Kather, Riley Logsdon, Shelby Niles, Alex Reich, Amy Tolentino.
---Good Luck at Dana Hills...Freshmen-8:15, Sophomores-8:45, Juniors-9:15, Seniors-9:45.

Woodbridge

---Overall, we ran well yesterday. Our Sweepstake's girls ran big, with Kamilah Foley(17.25), Justine Rea(17.29), Makenna Smith(17.35), Jessica Varela(17.47), Dani Brabender(18.09), Shelby Niles(18.19), and Amy Tolentino(18.25) running 88:26.0, the fourth best time out of over 200 schools that ran Saturday. Super efforts also by the Varsity "B" team, with Aaren Cadieux(18.07), Kora Johnson(18.09), and Alex Reich(18.37) leading the way, our junior varsity led by Jennifer Dorame(19.47), Lauren Moore(19.48), and Amanda Lee(19.53) finished second in their team competition, our sophomore team led by Emily Berg(20.37) and Alyza Rathor(20.42) finished third team-wise, and kudos to our freshmen team who won their race, with Brianna Parish(20.40) and Hannah Randall(20.57) our top two finishers.

Success at Seaside Invitational (XC 2009)

It was a very good day in Ventura for THHS Girls Cross Country. The girls won all four grade levels and were the overall team champions, beating out the #1 ranked team in CIF Division II.

CIF Masters...

The honor and privelege to compete at the Master's Track And Field Meet tonite is immense. 576 schools in the C.I.F. Southern Section, and to be one of nine to twelve competitors in an event who will lace up spikes at Cerritos College this evening is indeed an honor, so much so that we have not had a female compete in this meet in ten years. Cheryl Smith in the pole vault, Monica Todd in the 300 hurdles, Lori Hoffman in the 3200 meters, and our 4X100 meter relay team of Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, and Michelle Wicker, who ran the third fastest time(47.27) in Orange County history last Saturday, will attempt to qualify for the state meet in Clovis next week by placing in the top five or surpassing a qualifying mark or time. For the boys, Chad Rozean in the 400 meters, and our 4X400 meter relay team of Kevin Feazal, Mickey Miela, Jantzen Oshier, and Chad Rozean, who ran a huge PR last week of 3:17.30, seventh best in the state, will also compete for Clovis.

Good luck girls and boys, and GO BLUE!!!

CIF 2009 round 2

With over 500 schools in the C.I.F. Southern Section, placing in the top nine or twelve to earn a spot in the C.I.F. Master's Track And Field Meet is a daunting task, and up until this season, Trabuco Hills had not placed a female in the Master's Track And Field Meet in ten years, including my five previous seasons as head coach. Last Saturday at Cerritos College, we qualified for the Master's Meet in four events. Our 4X100 Meter Relay(Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, and Michelle Wicker) team ran their seventh school record of the season, 47.27, which is the third fastest time in Orange County history, dating back thirty-five years, and now ranks top ten in the state. Monica Todd ran the 300 Hurdles in 43.61, a personal and school record, to also earn a spot, Cheryl Smith pole vaulted 11 feet to gain a place at Master's, and finally, Lori Hoffman continued her improbable run through C.I.F., running 3200 meters in 10:51.15, another school and personal record, to earn the privelege to line up with the twelve best 3200 meter runners in C.I.F. Next up, the Master's Meet on Friday, May 29, at Cerritos College in Norwalk, which is a qualifier for the State Meet in Clovis in two weeks on June 5-6.

Kudos also to the girls' team for finishing sixth in Division 1, over 100 schools participating, and for competing with heart all day. Also, kudos to the boys...Chad Rozean capturing a spot in the Master's 400 meters, and the 4X400 meter relay team of Kevin Feazel, Mickey Miela, Jantzen Oshier, and Chad Rozean, who ran 3:17.30, an over 4.5- second improvement from their previous best, to also qualify for Master's next Friday night. I love the 4X400, unconditionally, and I was pleased as peaches for them. Great job boys and Coach Ayers.

We push on!

CIF 2009

The toughest track and field division in the state of California, C.I.F.
Southern Section Division 1, and possibly the country, according to experts, was our assignment on Saturday, May 16. We had girls qualified in thirteen of sixteen events, and eight of those competitions witnessed our girls earn spots in the Finals next weekend at Cerritos College in Norwalk: Monica Todd in the 100 Hurdles, 300 Hurdles, and Long Jump, Cathryn Saylor in the 1600 meters(PR of 5:01.35), Lori Hoffman in the 3200 meters and setting a school record of 10:54.35 in the process, Jerrilynn Stanwood throwing a PR of 125-10 in the Discus, Cheryl Smith in the Pole Vault, and our 4X100 meter relay team of Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, and Michelle Wicker ran their fifth school record this season, winning their heat in 47.69, quite an improvement for the quartet from their 48.94 PR in 2008. We earned alternates, finishing one or two spots out of the top nine, in three other events, Cassandra Smith finishing tenth in the triple jump, Kylie Pfeil high jumping a PR 5-4 for eleventh, not qualifying because of numbers of misses, and Michelle Wicker running a PR of 15.23 in the 100 Hurdles, good for eleventh. Kudos to all who qualified or competed, and the best of luck next week.

One major disappointment, as painful for me as I can remember in my track and field coaching career, was our 4X400 team not racing...a signature event for me and this program...having to scratch from the event because of a series of unforeseen circumstances, unfortunate because this team had a real chance to advance to next week and to the Master's Meet the following week, and who knows, maybe Clovis, site of the State Championships. I learned much from the experience, it still resonates as of this moment, and I give you my word this will never happen again...

Kudos to the fifty-five girls, freshmen and newcomers, who worked the track and field meet yesterday from 8:00am-9:00pm, with some working a portion of the day for various reasons. It starts with the parents because without you and your guidance, many of the athletes would not have been present.

I love track and field...

Banquet...

A huge thank you for the wonderful turnout, 400 plus, at last night girls'
track and field banquet. All seniors except for one were in attendance, or, were excused after communication, all award winners and captains were present, and we only had a total of twelve girls who were a no-show with no communication, out of 195 on the team, and all of those girls, by virtue of their irresponsibility and lack of courtesy, have earned a one-grade deduction on their semester report card. Thank you to the parents who were in attendance, I appreciate the kind words and warmth of congeniality last night, and my brick on the Legacy Wall is truly appreciated. Again, thank you...

Sea View League Finals Recap...

The junior varsity track and field team smothered their Sea View League competition last Friday night, scoring 275 points, second was 99. Freshman Jennifer Konishi led the way with four first places(400, 200, 4X100, 4X400), Monica Ukah won two events(100, 4X100), Alexa Brown won two events(4X100, 4X400), Angelica Douglas two(4X100, 4X400), with Alexandra Reich(800), Dani Brabender(1600), and Aubrey Baker(4X400) winning one. Other fine efforts were performed by: Alexa Brown(100, 200), Angelica Douglas(100, 200), Aubrey Baker(400, 200), Hillary Rush(400), Crystal Eng(400), Brooke Kather(800), Kora Mann(800), Alexandra Reich(1600), Makenna McGrann(1600, 3200), Amy Tolentino(3200), Hannah Nurmberg(100 Hurdles), Kassidie Stade(300 Hurdles), Cassandra Skibicki(Pole Vault), Danica Dobosy(High Jump), Jordan Pate-Clemons(Long Jump, Triple Jump), Ebony Agnew(Triple Jump), Dani Payne(Long Jump, Triple Jump), and Chane Young(Long Jump, Triple Jump).
Stupendous effort girls...you are the bedrock of the future...

Sea View League Finals Recap...

Gratifying victories Friday night, with the varsity scoring 205 points to smother the Sea View League competition, and grab a third straight league titile. Even more satisfying were the amount of athletes who stayed to cheer on teammates and revel in the team championships after the meet, and take a team picture. We qualified a whopping 16 athletes for C.I.F. Division 1 Preliminaries this Saturday at Trabuco Hills High School, by far the toughest division in the state and maybe even the country, and hope to advance most to finals. School records by Percylla Nared(200-25.03), Cassandra Smith(400-58.28), Monica Todd(100 Hurdles-15.00) and Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, Michelle Wicker(400 Relay-47.98, top ten in state)...Monica Todd(100H., 300H., Long Jump, 4X400) won four events, Percylla Nared(100, 200, 4X100) won three, Cathryn Saylor(1600) won one, Adrienne Liu(Triple Jump, 4X400) won two, Brierra Winfrey(4X100, 4X400) won two, Michelle Wicker(4X100) won one, Tia McFarlane(4X100) won one, Lori Hoffman(3200), in a huge upset, won one, and Cassandra Smith(4X400) won one, and all of those athletes qualified for C.I.F. in those mentioned events.
Other athletes advancing to C.I.F. were Tia McFarlane(100), Justine Rea(3200), Michelle Wicker(100 Hurdles), Brierra Winfrey(Long Jump), Cassandra Smith(Triple Jump), Alane Sewitsky(Triple Jump), Jerrilynn Stanwood(Discus), Melissa Christiansen(High Jump), Kylie Pfeil(High Jump), and Cheryl Smith(Pole Vault).

Kudos to Trabuco hills Girls' Varsity Track And Field...tomorrow...a re-cap of junior varsity, another resounding victory...and by the way, Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms...

Coach Kelly

More........... OC Champs

We fought the good fight. We scratched, clawed...and the girls did everything the coaching staff asked of them, finishing in second place at the Orange County Track And Field Championships on Saturday, losing narrowly to Dana Hills 91.5 to 87 in the varsity team sweepstakes, out of seventy-five teams. The day before the meet at a lunch get together, the O.C. girls drank Gatorade that included the mantra "Get Tough" on the plastic bottle, and were asked to be just that on Saturday. Indeed they were. As disappointed as I was driving away from Mission Viejo High School, I was solaced by the memory of our team giving it their all on Saturday.
Numerous highlights on the varsity, Percylla Nared's school record 12.40 100 and 25.20 200 finishing second and third respectively, Tia McFarlane running 12.40 also in the 100, finishing third, Cathryn Saylor's valiant effort in the 1600, running a strong second when she tripped and fell with 350 meters to go, got up, and finished eighth. Makenna Smith scoring in the 800 and 1600, Michelle Wicker scoring in the 100 Hurdles, Monica Todd winning the 300 Hurdles, second in the long jump, and scoring in the 100 Hurdles(arguably the best overall individual effort of the meet), Cassandra Smith winning the Triple Jump, Cheryl Smith scoring in the Pole Vault, and Melissa Christiansen scoring in the High Jump. Finally, our 4X100 Meter Relay team set another school record, winning easily in 48.12, which is the third fastest time in meet history, and our 4X400 meter relay(Ca.
Smith-59.5, Winfrey-59.0, Wicker-61.8, Todd-58.0) team ran second, running 3:58.50. Great job, girls...

The Frosh-Soph team also finished second in their team sweepstakes, losing
72-52 to Dana Hills. Jennifer Konishi ran a personal record 59.44 in the 400, finishing second, while Adrienne Liu ran 59.55 in the same race to finish third. Elizabeth Loper won the 100 Hurdles, running 15.73, a personal best, Adrienne Liu won the Frosh-Soph Triple Jump at 36-4.75, which would have won the varsity competition(yes, that would have reversed the varsity team scoring), Kylie Pfeil scored in both the pole vault and 100 hurdles, Alexa Brown scored in the 100, and Stephanie Smith scored in the triple jump. Finally, the 4X100 meter relay team of Monica Ukah, Jennifer Konishi, Alexa Brown, and Angelica Douglas ran 49.71 to smash the twenty-five year meet record in a winning effort, and the 4X400 meter relay(Brown-61.0, Liu-61.4, Douglas-62.8, Konishi-60.8) team ran second in 4:06.23, losing only their first race of the year in a frosh-soph competition.

A great day Saturday to be a Mustang, and thank you to the parents for your kind words and support of our efforts...We knocked on the door this season to become the first girls' track and field team to capture a varsity team title, and next season we will work harder to kick the door in. You have my word. GO BLUE!!!

OC Champs...

With only two spots per event at the Orange County Track And Field Championships on Saturday, April 25, at Mission Viejo High School, just competing for us is a privelege. Thirty-four girls will compete out of 195 on the team, all have been provided a meet time schedule, and it goes as
follows:

100-V-McFarlane, Nared, FS-Ukah
200-V-McFarlane, Nared, FS-Brown, Douglas 400-V-Ca. Smith, Winfrey, FS-Konishi, Liu 800-V-Saylor, M. Smith, FS-Cadieux, Kather 1600-V-Saylor, M.
Smith, FS-Brabender, McGrann 3200-V-Cruz, H. Niles, FS-Brabender, Tolentino 100 H.-V-Todd, Wicker, FS-E. Loper, Pfeil 300H.-V-Stade, Todd 4X100-V-McFarlane, Nared, Winfrey, Wicker, FS-Ukah, Konishi, Brown, Douglas 4X400-V-Ca. Smith, Winfrey, Wicker, Todd, FS-Brown, Liu, Douglas, Konishi LJ-V-Todd, Winfrey, FS-Douglas, Pate-Clemons TJ-V-Ca. Smith, Cht. Young, FS-Liu, St. Smith SP-V-Stanwood, FS-Bush D-V-Faagata, Stanwood, FS-Bush HJ-V-Christiansen, Cooper, FS-E. Loper, Pfeil PV-V-Ch. Smith, FS-Greenhalgh, Pfeil

Good luck to all those competing. 6:30am. bus on Mustang Run, you may arrive to CANOPY near the press box at MVHS two hours before event if you choose, and expect a 6:00pm. return...You may go home with a parent. GO BLUE!!!

Mt. Sac...

Three school records were broken at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays on Saturday...the 4X100 team(Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, Monica Todd) ran 48.35 to best the old record for the third time this season, and both 4X400 teams broke school bests. The frosh-soph team ran 4:04.73, obliterating the old record of 4:07.89 set in 2004, with Alexa Brown(61.8), Adrienne Liu(59.1), Aubrey Baker(60.9), and Angelica
Douglas(62.7) finishing a competitive fifth in a varsity heat. The varsity team of Cassandra Smith(60.6), Brierra Winfrey(58.7), Jennifer Konishi(59.5), and Monica Todd(59.2) ran 3:58.22, just besting the old mark of 3:58.50 set in 2005. Another highlight was freshman Cassandra Smith triple jumping 36-10 to win her competition Friday night, and that leap is the best for a freshman in the state of California this season.

On to Woodbridge and Orange County Championships...We push on!!!

El Toro

---Kudos to both girls' track and field teams for resounding victories over El Toro last Wednesday, 97-39 for varsity, 118-18 for junior varsity. As I have stated, we are talented, I like to think we are organized, and the results have been speaking for themselves.

---Ten girls will travel to Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut this weekend for the Mt. SAC Relays, the second largest high school track and field invitational in California, after Arcadia: 4X100 Invitational(Saturday-2:00pm.)-Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, and Monica Todd...4X400 Seeded(Saturday-9:30pm.) "A" team, Cassandra Smith, Brierra Winfrey, Jennifer Konishi, Monica Todd, 4X400 Open(Saturday-9:45pm.)"'B" team, Alexa Brown, Adrienne Liu, ?, and Angelica Douglas, Triple Jump Seeded(Friday-6:30pm.)-Cassandra Smith, 300 Hurdles Seeded(Saturday-5:50pm.)-Monica Todd, and Long Jump Invitational(Saturday-6:00pm.)-Monica Todd. Wish us well.

---At Woodbridge in Irvine on Thursday, April 23, 2:45pm. start...

---I love track and field...

---We push on!!!

Cross Country...

The 2009 cross country season schedule has been completed with the addition of the Stanford University(Palo Alto, Ca.) Cross Country Invitational, on the Stanford University Golf Course, to our schedule...September 25, 26, 27...flying to San Jose on Friday, September 25, out of Long Beach(Jet Blue-Best Price). A Saturday night trip to Pier 39 in San Francisco will be included, as well as a mini-tour of Stanford University on Friday, and of course the two races, varsity sweepstakes and junior varsity, on Saturday afternoon. Fourteen girls will travel and compete, the stopwatch will determine competitors, and myself and Mama Clemons look forward to the excursion.

Also, instead of traveling north to Ventura this season to open our racing schedule, we will travel south to San Diego on Friday, September 11, for the Mustang Invitational. We will depart around 10:00am, and return at 8:30pm...hopefully. More details will follow..

Team pictures

---Team pictures are Wednesday, April 15, 2:30pm., on the football field.
Picture packets will be distributed today...

---Our El Toro meet is Wednesday, April 15, 4:30 start of field events, 5:00 running events, in our annual evening tussle with El Toro...We hope to have your daughter dismissed from the track and field meet by 9:00pm...

---Beat El Toro...

Dennis Kelly

GO BLUE!!!

Arcadia...

---A positive experience at the Arcadia Invitational this past weekend, with school records being established in the 4X100(Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, Michelle Wicker), 4X200(Brierra Winfrey, Monica Todd, Alexa Brown, Percylla Nared), and our Distance Medley Relay (1200-400-800-1600) quartet smashing the school best by 25 seconds, with Ximena Cruz(3:44.8 1200), Cassandra Smith(59.5 400), Makenna Smith(2:19.5 800), and Cathryn
Saylor(5:06.2 1600) running an extremely competitive race, finishing sixth out of twenty teams, and neck and neck with the leaders with 600 meters to go. Also, our 4X400 team of freshman Cassandra Smith(60.5), sophomore Alexa Brown(60.8), freshman Jennifer Konishi(59.6), and sophomore Brierra Winfrey(60.2), ran 4:01.23, our best time this season, and won their heat.
Our shuttle hurdle team of Monica Todd, Michelle Wicker, Elizabeth Loper, and Kathryn Loper ran in the invitational race after being an alternate, led the race after two legs, and also established a school record. Individually, kudos to Monica Todd for qualifying for the night meet 300 Hurdles, our only individual to do so, and to Michelle Wicker, who ran 15.39 in the 100 Hurdles to establish another school record. Great job over the weekend by the largest contingent to ever race at the most prestigious high school track and field invitational in the country, and a huge thank you to the parents who support us by simply having their daughters at practice or at Arcadia over Easter Break, if asked, and some were requested to compete at the last minute. Just being there is a huge assistance to our efforts.
Again, thank you..

Trabuco Hills Invitational Results...

---A huge thank you to the parents who worked the THHS Distance Carnival and Invitational. Again, thank you!!! The weekend, 102 schools and 2800 athletes, was an unmitigated success.

---Numerous bright moments over the weekend...both 4X100 teams broke school records, varsity(Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, Michelle
Wicker) winning in 48.41, and frosh-soph(Monica Ukah, Jennifer Konishi, Alexa Brown, Angelica Douglas) triumphing in 50.19, and Michelle Wicker ran
15.46 for 100 Hurdles, good for fourth, and missed the school record because of a 2.1 MPH headwind, and the allowable is 2.0. The other school record was freshman Kylie Pfeil pole vaulting 9-7.5 for a freshman record. Cassandra Smith, a freshman, won the varsity triple jump(36-3), sophomore Brierra Winfrey finished third(16-6) in the varsity long jump, and Cheryl Smith pole vaulted 10-6 to place second. Varsity distance was highlighted by Cathryn Saylor's strong effort in the 1600(5:08 and change...). The frosh-soph team saw freshman Adrienne Liu(60.33) and freshman Jenny Konishi(60.88) finish
1-3 in the 400, running personal records while winning heats, Liu
won(35-0.5) again in the fs triple jump, Pfeil won the fs high jump(4-10) and was third in the 100 Hurdles(16.88), and freshmen Brooke Kather and Alexandra Reich ran personal bests placing in the fs 1600(5:28 and 5:32 and
change) to highlight fs distance. Finally, the fs 4X400(Alexa Brown(60.9), Jennifer Konishi(62.6), Adrienne Liu(63.1), and Angelica Douglas(61.5) continued their excellent racing...easily winning their race Saturday.

---Our varsity(110-26) and frosh-soph(115-16) track and field teams easily beat Foothill last Wednesday...and we now set our sights on El Toro...Wednesday, April 15, the same day as team pictures(2:30) on the turf field. First field event is 4:30, running events at 5:00, in our annual evening affair at THHS. Both girls and boys' cometitions are essentially for Sea View League titles, and we look forward to the match-up. Expect your daughter to be at THHS until 9:30...

---Thirty-eight sprinters, hurdlers, and jumpers have been notified of Easter Break practices...Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday...April 7, 8, 9...8:00-10:00am, at THHS. Any questions, email me, or call(562)3559474, or contact your event specific coach. Yes, Monday is an off-day, tough for me to say, and I will take the opportunity to watch my beloved Dodgers open the Major League Baseball season in San Diego at Petco Park...

---Our girls' varsity track and field team is ranked #2 in Orange County behind Dana Hills, the highest ranking in school history, and we are proud of it. A super-strong freshmen class buoyed by strong sophomore and junior classes bodes well for the future; however, our talent level will never exceed our work ethic. The day to day process is what is important, and results will be a residue of that.

---Arcadia this weekend, the Mecca of all invitationals...varsity only, and we will send twenty-one girls, the most ever. Wish us well...

---I love track and field...

Surf City Invitational / APU Distance Carnival

Kudos to the girls varsity and frosh-soph track and field teams for winning team titles at the 40-team Surf City Invitational on Saturday, March 28, at Estancia High School in Costa Mesa. The program received 50 Surf City t-shirts which will be distributed to any girl who competed, varsity or frosh-soph. Numerous highlights, varsity 4X100(Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, Michelle Wicker) winning in a school record 48.56, Percylla Nared winning the 100, and Cassandra Smith winning the triple jump for the varsity. The frosh-soph 4X100 team(Monikah Ukah, Jenny Konishi, Alexa Brown, Angelica Douglas) set a meet record of 50.74 while winning, and the 4X400 team of Alexa Brown(60.5), Jenny Konishi(61.0), Adrienne Liu(62.6), and Angelica Douglas(62.7) shattered the meet record, triumphing in 4:07.17, which is also a school record. Other frosh-soph winners were Alexa Brown(200), and Adrienne Liu(Triple Jump). Great job girls...

The distance girls ran the APU Distance Carnival yesterday. Highlights were Cathryn Saylor(5:05.11), Makenna Smith(5:07.33), Ximena Cruz(5:14.45), Lori Hoffman(5:19.77), Sabrina Rathor(5:20.33), Kamilah Foley(5:21.66), Rebecca Murillo(5:24.22), and freshman Makenna McGrann(5:31.11) in the 1600, and Hayley Niles(11:08.55) and Justine Rea(11:14.56) in the 3200 meters. Great job, girls, and GO BLUE!!!

Katella Relays Recap...

Walking out of Santa Ana College Saturday was a surreal experience for me.
This track and field job is not a recreational past-time for me. I take it seriously. Six seasons into this position has witnessed an ascencion of the program. Our first three seasons we did not dare dream of defeating Mission Viejo, heck, my first year I dropped every freshman and sophomore I had that could score points and barely beat Mission's frosh-soph team in a dual meet. The varsity lost 122-14. Two seasons ago we started inching towards them, last season at Katella we were close, and this year we hammered Mission Viejo, Varsity, 116-86, winning 12 of 14 events...Frosh-Soph, 130-88. Kudos to all of the girls who have worked hard, competed yesterday, and rose to the occasion.

We set seven meet records yesterday, and mind you the meet has taken place for thirty-six years: Varsity 4X100(Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, Michelle Wicker), Varsity 4X200( Tia McFarlane, Monica Todd, Brierra Winfrey, Percylla Nared), Varsity 4X1600(Cathryn Saylor, Makenna Smith, Hayley Niles, Ximena Cruz), who shattered the record by over twenty seconds, Varsity Long Jump(Monica Todd, Cassandra Smith, Brierra Winfrey)...Frosh-Soph 4X400(Alexa Brown, Jenny Konishi, Brooke Kather, Angelica Douglas), Frosh-Soph 4X1600(Dani Brabender, Brooke Kather, Riley Logsdon, Amy Tolentino), and Frosh-Soph Sprint Medley(Aubrey Baker, Alexa Brown, Jenny Konishi, Brooke Kather). If the baton work would have been a little cleaner(blame the coach); more could have happened, all in all, again, a great day.

Again, on to our first Sea View League meet on Thursday, March 26, home, 2:45pm, versus Huntington Beach. Next weekend will see the distance runners compete at the Azusa Pacific University Distance Carnival, while everyone else travels to the Edison High School Surf City Invitational at Estancia High School in Costa Mesa. Remember, all freshmen and newcomers, last names A-L, work the Trabuco Hills Track And Field Invitational...Saturday, April 4, 8:00am-8:00pm, and if that day does not work, the rest of the alpha works Saturday, May 16, 8:00am-8:00pm, the CIF Division 1 Track And Field Preliminaries at THHS. Never a dull moment...

Thank you parents for your support...

Laguna Hills

Resounding victories Thursday for the varsity, 119-17, and junior varsity, 134-2, versus Laguna Hills. As I stated before, in numerous event areas, we are a deep and talented track and field team. Weaknesses, we have some; however, all in all, many coaches would take our problems. On to Huntington Beach, Thursday, March 26, our first Sea View League competition.

The Katella Relays are this weekend. Mission Viejo High School is in this meet, and we love to compete with the Diablos. Their varsity girls' track and field team has won this meet umpteen years in a row, too many to count, we have been in their zipcode the last two years after being shellacked the three years before that, and we are going to give them our best shot, and everyone else. We will see. I just got word that our frosh-soph field event girls did well at Katella Hs today, winning the long jump, triple jump, high jump, and second in pole vault. Our discus and shot put teams did not fare as well; however, kudos to the girls who placed team above self and competed, unlike some of their teammates.

The freshmen were informed today that they are requested to be at THHS Wednesday, March 25, 7:00am, for Physical Fitness Testing. It is a late start day, and school for most does not commence until 9:35. This is a mandatory battery of tests for all of the freshmen in the state, and we are no different. If your daughter does not attend, she has to be pulled out of track and field practice for this. Please, cooperate. Please.

Remember...freshmen and newcomers...last names A-L, Saturday, April 4, 8:00am-8:00pm, for the Trabuco Hills Track And Field Invitational. Other date if their is a conflict is Saturday, May 16, C.I.F. Division 1 Preliminaries, also at THHS. Community Service hours are completed...

Parents, thank you for your cooperation...It takes a village!!! Onward...

Cougar Classic Invitational...

Kudos to the girls' varsity and frosh-soph track and field teams for winning team titles at the Covina High School Cougar Classic Track And Field Invitational on Saturday, defeating second place Los Osos High School of Rancho Cucamonga 152-81 on the varsity, and handily on the junior varsity also. There were numerous point scorers...with the last victories in the 4X400 meter relays...Alexa Brown, Brooke Kather, Jennifer Konishi, and Angelica Douglas for the frosh-soph...Cassandra Smith, Michelle Wicker, Cathryn Saylor, and Monica Todd(57.7 anchor) for the varsity. Again, too many for this tired coach to name...kudos to all who competed...A great day for the Mustangs...

Tesoro Meet...

A nice start to our season...wins over Tesoro for the varsity...96-35, and 95-40 for the junior varsity. First meets are typically tough from a logistical standpoint and this one was no different. Lots of girls to organize, making sure girls arrive to their events, timing races, etc. We had a girl disqualified because of a jewelry violation, and one of our top sprinters was not allowed to race because she drove herself to the meet, a violation of district policy; nevertheless, we persevered, and enjoyed the afternoon.

Multiple wins on the varsity for Michelle Wicker, Percylla Nared, Monica Todd, Jerrilynn Stanwood, and Cassandra Smith, while Brierra Winfrey, Makenna Smith, and Cheryl Smith also won events. The junior varsity saw Courtney Ringenback and Brooke Kather capture multiple events, while Angelica Douglas, Alexa Brown, Hillary Rush, Katie Howard, Monica Ukah, Amy Tolentino, Jeny Konishi, and Adrienne Liu also won competitions. Lots of personal records, too numerous to enumerate...Let's just say I was overall pleased with our collective efforts.

Selected athletes will travel to Azusa Pacific University tomorrow for the Cougar Classic hosted by Covina High School. Three per event makes for securing a seat on the 5:30am bus a tough propostion. We will return around 6:30pm. This is as deep and talented a track and field team since I began this gig six years ago with 74 athletes. Today, 191... We will continue to work hard and look forward to our first home meet versus Laguna Hills on Thursday, March 19. Thank you for your support, and GO BLUE!!!