2008 Woodie Awards
Runners look forward to state championships
Brent Morrow
Issue date: 2/4/05 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The Mustang track and field season is up and running. Last season ended very well for the mustangs, as they had four state champions taking fifth, seventh and eighth place at the state meet, taking second place overall.
The key losses to the mustang team this season were Lauryn Jordan of the girl's team, who most recently broke the heptathlon record to win the state championship, two years straight.
Returning sophomores includes Jill Schlenker on pole vault, Jenna Turner on the hurdles, and Caroline Garrett, a distance runner for the girls' team. Omar Parra, distance runner, is the only person to return to the men's team.
After two years of coaching, the Mustangs' Dan King knows a weakness for the track and field team is the number of competitors.
"The number of people who try out," said king, "It's very difficult to be an off-campus coach and to recruit kids."
Coach King said the team's strengths are their individual talent.
"Our girls team is going to be pretty fair," said King, "some really talented individuals are on the girls' team.
The community college schools will be very competitive, including American River in the 800 meter, and Sacramento City in their recruitments.
"We are going to be very competitive in pole vault, girls' hurdles, and some of the throwing events for the men," said King.
Distance runner Garrett is looking forward to another competitive season. "I went to state for cross country and I hope to go to state with track," Garret says.
Distance runner, Parra is competing in the 800 meter and the 1500 meter.
"At least coming out in the top five in state is my goal," said Parra.
A newcomer to the team is Kelby Hargrove, who runs short distance.
"It's really an exciting year for me," said freshman Parra, "It's a new level of competition."
"We're looking at a sport that is rich in Olympic history," said King, "We feel really good that our sport has a rich tradition."
The key losses to the mustang team this season were Lauryn Jordan of the girl's team, who most recently broke the heptathlon record to win the state championship, two years straight.
Returning sophomores includes Jill Schlenker on pole vault, Jenna Turner on the hurdles, and Caroline Garrett, a distance runner for the girls' team. Omar Parra, distance runner, is the only person to return to the men's team.
After two years of coaching, the Mustangs' Dan King knows a weakness for the track and field team is the number of competitors.
"The number of people who try out," said king, "It's very difficult to be an off-campus coach and to recruit kids."
Coach King said the team's strengths are their individual talent.
"Our girls team is going to be pretty fair," said King, "some really talented individuals are on the girls' team.
The community college schools will be very competitive, including American River in the 800 meter, and Sacramento City in their recruitments.
"We are going to be very competitive in pole vault, girls' hurdles, and some of the throwing events for the men," said King.
Distance runner Garrett is looking forward to another competitive season. "I went to state for cross country and I hope to go to state with track," Garret says.
Distance runner, Parra is competing in the 800 meter and the 1500 meter.
"At least coming out in the top five in state is my goal," said Parra.
A newcomer to the team is Kelby Hargrove, who runs short distance.
"It's really an exciting year for me," said freshman Parra, "It's a new level of competition."
"We're looking at a sport that is rich in Olympic history," said King, "We feel really good that our sport has a rich tradition."