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...