COTTONWOOD, CA (MPG) – It was a repeat performance for the Pierce varsity boys track team as it claimed its second straight Northern Section Division III crown last Friday at West Valley High School after posting six first place finishes and five personal best efforts to run past second place Trinity by 48 points.
Retaining the title had been the goal all along as Coach Lisa Burnum explained, “We had an idea we could repeat our last year’s performance, but nothing is a given. We talked about goals and told the kids to stay humble. It’s something that coaches talk about all the time, and it’s true. Our kids bought in and it happened for us.”
Leading the way for the Bears was a pair of double winners in Thomas Sweet and JR Figueroa.
Vazquez Velazquez, Drew Burnum, Nate Macintosh, Thomas Sweet. Courtesy photo.
On the day Sweet set two personal records, taking first in the triple jump with a mark of 43-00.25 and going 21-00.5 in the long jump, while Figueroa swept the hurdles races, running the 110 meters in a time of 17.45 and the 300 meters in a career best 42.70.
Pierce picked up another individual win in the 200 meters with Nate Macintosh crossing the line in a time of 23.56.
In the 4×100 relay, the Bears’ squad, comprised of Drew Burnum, Sweet, Jonathan Vazquez Hernandez and Macintosh, broke the school record they had set the week before at the Sacramento Valley League Finals finishing in 43.85.
Another important contribution to Pierce’s triumph came from Vazquez Hernandez who was second in the 100 (11.44-PR), second in the 200 (23.62) and third in the long jump (20-00.5).
Abram Carrillo (18.18) took second in the 110 meter hurdles, while three others recorded third place finishes including Macintosh (11.45) in the 100, Burnum (5-10-PR) in the high jump and Anthony Torres (38-03.25) in triple jump.
in the process. Pictured from left: Aaliyah Williams, Shaheen Orr, Coach Marco Garcia, Itzel Cruz and Kendall Marengo. Courtesy photo.
Also running among the varsity boys teams was Colusa, who saw Benji Granados take second in the 3200 meters with a personal best time of 10:07.49 and third in 1600 (4:45.24), then got another third place finish from Emiliano Guzman (52.38) in the 400.
Meanwhile, in the varsity girl’s competition, the RedHawks made some noise, tying for third with Durham, while Pierce ended the day in fifth.
Colusa’s best finish at the competition was a win in the 4×100 relay in which the quartet of Shaheen Orr, Aaliyah Williams, Itzel Cruz and Kendall Marengo set a new school mark with a time of 51.77.
The RedHawks also had Danica Chavez (1:04.45) take second in the 400 meters and Baylee Guizar let loose a season’s best toss of 87-04.5 to earn second in the discus, then also set a personal record of 28-03.5 in the shot put to finish third.
Cruz (27.69) was third in the 200 meters, while Eloise Guerrero (6:10.84-PR) was third in the 1600.
Pierce had a nice showing led by Karina Grajedra, who in her final season for the Bears set personal records in the 800 (2:38.55) and 1600 (5:57.20), both which were good for second and drew praise from Burnum, who said this about the senior, “Karina definitely showed up. She puts in lots of extra work running on the weekends and training. Her hard work paid off for sure. She is the most decorated female athlete on the team over the last four years.”
Macey Myers (31-09.5-PR) recorded a second place finish in just her second meet competing in the triple jump, while Lyla Maldonado (2:38.61-PR) was third in the 800.
Select varsity athletes will be participating in the NSCIF Championships today at West Valley High School in Cottonwood where berths to the CIF State Championships are on the line.