Escalon's girls came out on top in the Trans-Valley League meet on Wednesday, May 11, while the boys finished second in the competition staged at Stanislaus State in Turlock.
The track and field Lady Cougars scored 131 1/2 points to edge out Riverbank, second with 126 1/2 points. The varsity boys put 132 points on the board, second to Riverbank's 153 1/2.
"The girls won, it was real close," said coach Rick Heflin. "We didn't come out in the field as well as we wanted but then we came out strong in the track events."
Key performances came from Amanda Moreno and Amanda Nunes. Moreno ran tough in the 800 and 1600, finishing second in the 800 in 2:25.17 and winning the 1600 with a meet record of 5:07.65. Nunes won the 100 in 12.63, the 200 in 27.64.
"Those were two all-time personal bests for her," Heflin said. "She looked great, no one was close to her."
Simone Lionudakis turned in an outstanding performance as well, finishing first in the long jump at 15-8 3/4; second in the high jump, 4-4; third in the 400, 1:04.81; and fifth in the triple jump.
"She was awesome," Heflin said of the freshman standout.
Megan McNinch picked up points for Escalon with two fourth place finishes in shotput and disc and Mckenzie Brown had another strong showing as well, taking third in the high jump at 4-2 and fourth in the pole vault.
"She was also the leadoff runner in our 4-by-100 team that won it (54.03), followed by Lauren Brown, Lauren Cosentino and Amanda Nunes," said Heflin. "Jessica Moore came out of the third flight and got seventh in both the shot and disc."
Cosentino took third in the 100 meter hurdles, 18.15 and the Lady Cougars also took second in the four-by-400 meter relay.
The top three in each event move on to the subsection trials Tuesday, May 17 at Modesto Junior College with the fourth place going as an alternate. Finals are slated Thursday, May 19.
"We have about 14 moving on," Heflin said of the team members continuing. "We had a ton of personal records and I had to buy eight pizzas."
That means several competitors hit their 'pizza mark,' times or distances set by Heflin as goals for them during the year.
"On the boys side, I felt bad for them because they met or exceeded every goal we had set, we just didn't have the depth to catch Riverbank," said Heflin. "We were going nip and tuck with them, but then they scored 23 points in the two-mile and there wasn't a lot we could do."
Jake Brown had a stellar day, with a winning throw in the discus of 152-0, breaking the school record set several years ago by Jim Ball. That mark was 150-0. Mike Sawyer was second with a throw of 149-0. Brown was third in the shotput, 44-1 1/2 and Sawyer was second, 46-2 1/2.
Marcus Savage took the high jump at 5-10 and was second in the long jump at 20-9. Jaremy Puthoff finished third in the long jump, 20-7.
"Sam Goulet won the 400 and was second in the 200, " said Heflin. "Puthoff was in the second heat and ended up fourth in the 400 and second in the 100, that's not bad for a sophomore."
Goulet ran a 51.20 to win the 400 and ran the 200 in 22.73. Puthoff had an 11.06 in the 100. Kyle Courtright was third in the pole vault, 11-6, while Shane Brookshire was second in the 1600, 4:41.3 and the 800, 2:03.12.
The boys four-by-100 meter relay team took third in 46.16, run by Brad Campoy, Rocky Overturf, Puthoff and Goulet.
Michael Beeman hit pizza marks with a fourth place showing in the 300 low hurdles and was fifth in the 110 high hurdles, setting new personal bests in both events.
"We actually placed in every single event," Heflin added. "I wish the boys could have won because they worked so hard, we just didn't have the depth.
"I'd love to have two championships, I'll settle for one."
By MARG JACKSON
The track and field Lady Cougars scored 131 1/2 points to edge out Riverbank, second with 126 1/2 points. The varsity boys put 132 points on the board, second to Riverbank's 153 1/2.
"The girls won, it was real close," said coach Rick Heflin. "We didn't come out in the field as well as we wanted but then we came out strong in the track events."
Key performances came from Amanda Moreno and Amanda Nunes. Moreno ran tough in the 800 and 1600, finishing second in the 800 in 2:25.17 and winning the 1600 with a meet record of 5:07.65. Nunes won the 100 in 12.63, the 200 in 27.64.
"Those were two all-time personal bests for her," Heflin said. "She looked great, no one was close to her."
Simone Lionudakis turned in an outstanding performance as well, finishing first in the long jump at 15-8 3/4; second in the high jump, 4-4; third in the 400, 1:04.81; and fifth in the triple jump.
"She was awesome," Heflin said of the freshman standout.
Megan McNinch picked up points for Escalon with two fourth place finishes in shotput and disc and Mckenzie Brown had another strong showing as well, taking third in the high jump at 4-2 and fourth in the pole vault.
"She was also the leadoff runner in our 4-by-100 team that won it (54.03), followed by Lauren Brown, Lauren Cosentino and Amanda Nunes," said Heflin. "Jessica Moore came out of the third flight and got seventh in both the shot and disc."
Cosentino took third in the 100 meter hurdles, 18.15 and the Lady Cougars also took second in the four-by-400 meter relay.
The top three in each event move on to the subsection trials Tuesday, May 17 at Modesto Junior College with the fourth place going as an alternate. Finals are slated Thursday, May 19.
"We have about 14 moving on," Heflin said of the team members continuing. "We had a ton of personal records and I had to buy eight pizzas."
That means several competitors hit their 'pizza mark,' times or distances set by Heflin as goals for them during the year.
"On the boys side, I felt bad for them because they met or exceeded every goal we had set, we just didn't have the depth to catch Riverbank," said Heflin. "We were going nip and tuck with them, but then they scored 23 points in the two-mile and there wasn't a lot we could do."
Jake Brown had a stellar day, with a winning throw in the discus of 152-0, breaking the school record set several years ago by Jim Ball. That mark was 150-0. Mike Sawyer was second with a throw of 149-0. Brown was third in the shotput, 44-1 1/2 and Sawyer was second, 46-2 1/2.
Marcus Savage took the high jump at 5-10 and was second in the long jump at 20-9. Jaremy Puthoff finished third in the long jump, 20-7.
"Sam Goulet won the 400 and was second in the 200, " said Heflin. "Puthoff was in the second heat and ended up fourth in the 400 and second in the 100, that's not bad for a sophomore."
Goulet ran a 51.20 to win the 400 and ran the 200 in 22.73. Puthoff had an 11.06 in the 100. Kyle Courtright was third in the pole vault, 11-6, while Shane Brookshire was second in the 1600, 4:41.3 and the 800, 2:03.12.
The boys four-by-100 meter relay team took third in 46.16, run by Brad Campoy, Rocky Overturf, Puthoff and Goulet.
Michael Beeman hit pizza marks with a fourth place showing in the 300 low hurdles and was fifth in the 110 high hurdles, setting new personal bests in both events.
"We actually placed in every single event," Heflin added. "I wish the boys could have won because they worked so hard, we just didn't have the depth.
"I'd love to have two championships, I'll settle for one."
By MARG JACKSON
