Girls Seniors-Only Sac Joaquin Section Masters Highlights
100 Dash
Imani Dupree (Sheldon) finally gets to run at Masters! It's hard to believe this talented sprinter has never competed in this meet until her senior season. And that season isn't over: Dupree and Gabrielle Spencer (Franklin Senior) are neck and neck all the way to the finish, where the timing system shows Dupree as the winner by 0.02. The competition fuels new PR's for both, boosting them into the low 11.7's and making them contenders next week, as well. Nylah Hassaan (El Capitan) holds off Josalynn Bennett (Cosumnes Oaks) and Gianna Scruggs (Folsom) to claim the final qualifying spot.
200 Dash
Perhaps motivated by her narrow loss in the 100, Spencer rockets around the curve to take the early lead in this race, putting pressure on Ceonna Pipion (Vista Del Lago) and Dupree to keep pace. Pipion does close down the stretch, but Spencer is able to hold on for the win. The three speedsters pull away from Sarah Aanenson (Bear River), who leads the rest of the finalists across the line.
400 Dash
This race developed as expected, which means the winner and the top three were never seriously in doubt. Pipion cruised to her second straight section title in this event, staying comfortably ahead of Kylie Burton (Antelope) and Tatumn Lachapelle (Sheldon). Those two battled each other all the way down the final stretch, racing for pride and PR as they were not challenged from behind; at the line, Lachapelle outleans her rival for second as both advance to the state meet.
800 Run
Isabella Fauria (St. Francis SJ) is ready to break 2:10, but she has no need to do it this week. With the grind of two races during Division week and two more in Masters, she is doing everything she can to save her legs for a big performance next week. She hits the first 400 in 61 (which gases the field), then dials it back and rolls to the win. Amber Jackson (Forest Lake Christian) decided to drop the 1600 and focus on this race, giving her fresh legs with which to push past a tired Haley Silva (St. Francis SJ) for second place. Kelli Vierra (Elk Grove) is pulled to a new PR but winds up in fourth.
1600 Run
With Jackson out of the race, this became a two-girl battle up front. Sophia Karperos (Rio Americano) set the early pace, wary of Silva's closing speed - and rightly so, as Silva kicks past in the final 200 to take the win, both runners breaking 5 minutes. It will be interesting to Silva if she stays in both races next weekend, whereas we're certain Karperos will go 100% for the 3200. With third place wide open, an amazing three-person sprint to the finish concluded with Molly Dreher (McClatchy) in the final qualifying spot, just getting by Kayden Legan (Oakdale) and Madison Hutchings (El Dorado) thanks to a late surge.
3200 Run
Karperos is in control of this race, gradually pulling away from more and more runners as she steadily pushes the pace. Legan is the last to fall off, and that doesn't happen until the final lap. Both runners break 11 in preparation for the state meet. Hutchings is able to outkick Lisa Irvine (Woodcreek) and Sophie Pelletier (Vista Del Lago)
100 Hurdles
Alexis Hinojosa (Lincoln SJ) wins as expected, but what is unexpected is the strong challenge put up by Grace Bliss (Colfax), who comes within a few thousandths of taking the title as she goes well under 15. India Collins (Monterey Trail) gets to the state meet for the first time after finishing sixth here last year; she has to hold off a hard-charging Isabella Palchak (St. Francis) over the final four hurdles to take third.
300 Hurdles
The 400/300H double may be one of the most grueling an athlete can do in a track meet, and that could be why Kylie Burton is unable to hold off a late push from Collins for the section title. Burton advances to the state meet in her second event; will she choose one or stick with both? Bliss takes third, passing Sarah Perdue (Kimball) in the last 100 meters.
Long Jump
Sarah Aanenson (Bear River) puts up a winning jump on her second attempt, but she knows she still has work to do to contend at the state meet, so she takes all six to work on her technique. The battle for second place, though, is exciting: Delaney Gates (Pleasant Grove) repays Gellica Cruz (Lincoln Stockton) for the loss in last week's division meet, and then on her last attempt Jada Harper (Granite Bay) leaps past both of them to take the silver. Gates holds onto third as Cruz winds up in fourth, although she does have a new PR.
Triple Jump
As she did last spring, Blessings Norwood (Cordova SJ) brings her best at the championship. Last year that effort got her 6th at Masters; this year, it means a new PR in the 38's and a section title, as she squeaks by Aanenson by only a few inches. Abby Lo (Davis Senior), Naomi Chappell (Gregori), and Megan Ellis (Granite Bay) all hold third place at some point in the competition, with Chappell taking possession for good on her 5th attempt to advance to the state meet.
High Jump
Having narrowly missed qualifying in the 100 Hurdles, Isabella Palchak leaves no doubt here by clearing 5-6 to take the crown. That leaves Jazmyn Tubbs (Turlock), Kaitlynn Perez (Merced), Jayme Hendrickson (St. Francis), Jeorgia Jacobsen (Vacaville), and Abigail Clark (Summerville) scrambling to grab the remaining two spots in the state meet. Jacobsen emerges with second place, clearing 5-4 on her first attempt; Perez and Clark also get over 5-4, with Perez taking third place based on total misses.
Pole Vault
Elena Siemens (Davis Senior) has been the section leader all season, but today she seems slightly off. It's not a total disaster by any means: she muscles through on sheer willpower to take second, and we look forward to seeing her on rhythm again next week. Today belonged to the aptly named Sky Kezmoh (Vista Del Lago), who sets a new PR by clearing 12-6 as she claims the title. Meghan Ladd (St. Francis SJ), who struggled in 2019 after topping out at 12 feet as a sophomore, has been creeping back toward that height all season; today she comes from a bit off the radar to grab third place, getting by Grace Mantsch (Placer) and Kasandra Medel (Turlock).
Shot Put
From the first throw by Melisa Toilolo (Merrill West) today, it was clear she was on another level from the rest of the field (if that wasn't already obvious based on her season rankings). With two throws in the 44's and two more in the 43's, she looks ready to compete with just about anyone next week. Angelica Lowry (Oakdale) throws 40 feet to return to the state meet, while Brandy Ieremia (Lincoln Stockton) just barely edges our Markayla Billings (Cosumnes Oaks) for the final qualifying spot.
Discus
Toilolo is almost as good in the discus as she is in the shot, and Billings is just as good as Toilolo (which makes for a fun competition to watch). Billings takes the lead on her fourth attempt and never looks back, going over 145 for a new PR and the win. Toilolo is also over 140 to move on to the state meet, putting a huge gap between her and the next group. Khaiya Simpson (Pitman) leads that cluster, putting her squarely in third place as she uncorks two throws near 130 feet.