PREVIEW: Top Returning Girls in the North Coast Section

Albert Caruana

2022 North Coast Section Track and Field - Top Girls To Watch

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North Coast Section track and field athletes missed out on competing at a section final in 2021. Since the section covers such a large geographical area, the section office didn't feel comfortable having a meet that would include so many athletes from so many different counties. Some athletes in the section competed at the unofficial NorCal Championship meet in mid June at Clayton Valley HS. Below, you can check out our selection of the top returning girls in the section. 

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Julia Alexander (St. Mary's Berkeley/Sr.) Sprinter/Jumps
PRs: 100m 12.73, 200m 26.84, Long Jump 18-6, Triple Jump 38-5.75
St. Mary's Berkeley may have one of the most unusual tracks in the nation (google it!) but has never been short of talent when it comes to technical events. This year, one of their most impressive athletes will be senior Julia Alexander (photo courtesy of her Twitter account). She will contend for state championship spots in both the long jump and triple.

Deserey Bryant (Deer Valley/Sr.) 100/200
PRs: 100m 12.31, 200m 25.70
Looking at last year's results, it may be difficult to identify the best sprinter in the section since so many girls were good at singular events. If you look at the best combo sprinter, then Deserey Bryant would be the most impressive as she recorded the best time in the 100m and the 3rd fastest 200m mark.

Mara Lampsas (California/Sr.) Hurdles/High Jump
PRs: 100m Hurdles 16.01, 300m Hurdles 47.36, High Jump 5-6
One of the most versatile track and field athletes in the section is California junior, Mara Lampsas. She was one of the top hurdlers in the section last spring and tied for the best mark in the high jump at 5-6. She also contributed to her team's success in the sprints and relays.

Lily Mulligan (Maria Carrillo/Jr.) Long Jump/Pole Vault
PRs: Long Jump 18-2, Pole Vault 13-0
Maria Carrillo junior Lily Mulligan was the best vaulter in the section with a mark of 13-0. Her lone loss was at the always uber-competitive Arcadia Invitational. Aside from being an excellent vaulter, Mulligan also recorded a sub 13 second 100m and long jumped 18-2.

Sophia Nordenholz (Albany/Sr.) 1600/3200
PRs: 1600m 4:53.26, 3200m 10:05.91
Sophia Nordenholz broke the North Coast Record last year in the 3200m at the Arcadia Invitational last spring. This past season, Nordenholz posted another successful cross country season that included a state title in Division IV and a 9th place finish at the Eastbay National XC championship meet.


Cate Peters (Monte Vista/Jr.) 100/200/400/800
PRs: 100m 12.36, 200m 25.93, 400m 56.52, 800m 2:13.49
Cate Peters is one of the top returning sprinters in the section and for good measure, she also posted the fastest time in the 800m in her only effort of the season. The most difficult part for her coaches is narrowing it down to the events she will compete in at the section final.

Ellie Roan (El Molino/Sr.) Shot Put/Discus
PRs: Shot Put 36-8.5, Discus 118-8
The best combo returning thrower in the section is El Molino senior, Ellie Roan. Her shot put mark of 36-8.5 was the third best mark last spring. Her discus personal best of 118-8 topped all the other discus throwers in the section as she will be favored to win her first section title in that event.

Olivia Williams (Acalanes/So.) 1600/3200
PRs: 1600m 5:24.61, 3200m 11:25.53
If you are wondering why Olivia Williams is listed here based on her PRs from last spring, you probably missed her competing this past fall in cross country. Williams claimed her first section title defeating one of the top runners in the section, Sophia Nordenholz. She also finished in 2nd place at the state meet and qualified for the Eastbay National meet along with Nordenholz.

Najah Williams (St. Mary's Berkeley/Sr.) Hurdles
PRs: 100m Hurdles 15.37, 300m Hurdles 49.09
Najah Williams was one of the best combo hurdlers in the section as she posted the fastest mark in the 100m hurdles and a top 10 mark in the 300m hurdles. She will also take part on her school's 400m relay which will contend for a spot at the state championship.


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Albert Caruana is a Bay Area-based coach and a regular contributor to MileSplitCA