When track athletes from Colusa and Pierce convened in Winters last Wednesday for the third Sacramento Valley League meet of the season, it was the RedHawk varsity girls earning 114 points to post the highest team score at the competition.
For the second meet in a row, double winner Salma Gonzales led Colusa, taking the shot put and discus with throws of 30’-07 and 80’-03 respectively.
In the sprints, Carlie Sanchez and Bella Badaluco tied at the tape in the 200 meters in a time of 29.0, while Danica Chavez (1:05.6) finished first in the 400 with Badaluco (1:10) coming in second.
Colusa’s 4 x 100 relay team, which included Alena Sanchez, Chavez, Carlie Sanchez and Badaluco, was second in a time of 54.6.
The RedHawks also got a good showing in the distance races with Rajdeep Shoker finishing first in the 3200 (14:17) and second in the 1600 (6:26).
Setting a personal record and winning the long jump for Colusa, was Alena Sanchez (15’-11).
For Pierce, the fifth place team, Andrea Barba was second in the long jump, with a leap of 15’-06, and third in the 100 meters (13.2), while Ysabel Charter was third in both the shot put (25’-07) and discus (67’).
In the varsity boys division, the RedHawks, with 83 points, were five behind Willows, while the Bears were fifth after compiling 46 points.
Freshman Christopher Ruiz continued to impress, having won the 200 meters (24.7) and finishing second in the 100 (11.6).
Teammate Charlie Santana was second in the 200, with a time of 24.7, and then joined with Ruiz, Isaiah Travis, and Jacob Cerney to win the 4 x 100 relay (48.6).
Cerney ran a 1:02 in the 400 meters, which was good for second, while Benji Granados was second in the 1600 (5:12) and third in the 3200 (11:26).
Pierce got a strong performance from Brant Boughton, who won the 400 (58.4), then combined with Leonardo Andrade, Manuel Corona, and Kirk Shahan as part of the first place 4 x 400 relay team (4:03).
In the field events, the Bears got second place finishes from Daniel Tejeda (17’-1) in the long jump, Julian Corona (27’11) in the triple jump, and Daniel Bustamante (38’8) in the shot put, while Alfonso Orozco (112’’-06) was third in discus.
Both teams competed in Paradise on Wednesday for the fourth SVL meet, before they head to Corning for the Gary Burton Invitational on Friday. ■
