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League Meet, Track Invitational For Escalon Athletes
Nash hj
Escalon’s Owen Nash is shown in the high jump, an event he won this weekend at the Pacific Grove Invitational. He also took third place in the 200 meters in the running events. Photo Courtesy Of Padres Trails Camera Club

It was a last minute trip to Hilmar and then a weekend excursion to Pacific Grove, where the Cougar track and field team enjoyed both the competition and some success.

The Trans-Valley League meet with the Yellowjackets was touch and go, said head coach Carrie Nash.

“Because of the rain early in the week and Hilmar’s dirt track, we weren’t given the go ahead for this meet until noon on Wednesday. We left at 1:30 p.m.,” the coach said. “They worked really hard to get it ready for us to be able to compete on it. We definitely appreciated this opportunity to compete. Having said that, the track was not ideal for running good times because it was very soft. Times overall were slower than usual and a bit inaccurate because they were hand times.”

However, the coach added, some great performances came from Preston Ball who won both of the throw events and turned in a huge PR in the discus. He leads the TVL in both events. He also placed in both long and triple jumps.

Freshman Katherine Romero took first in all three of her distance events. She ran the 800m, the 1600m and the 3200m.

“At Pacific Grove our frosh/soph girls won the meet. They won both relays and really showed up on the track and in the field taking many of the scoring places,” Nash said. “Alyssa Ball medaled in all four of her events, Cali Granis medaled in her three events. Sammy Lang medaled in three of her four events.”

Among the top efforts: Sammy Lang and Katelyn Rodriguez medaled in the 100m hurdles; Cali Granis and Sammy Lang took first and second in the long jump; Katherine Romero broke 14 minutes for the first time in the 3200.

The frosh/soph boys didn’t take home as many medals but notable performances came from several team members. Andrew Morales was third in the 200m. Jose Calderon was second in the 3200m, Frank Rodriguez was first in the shot put and Nick Fernandez was second. Jake Sawyer ran a solid 800m.

“Of the small varsity crew that went, Preston Ball took first in both throwing events, bettering his PR by another two feet in the shot put,” explained Nash. “Casey Vassallo was third in the shot. Owen Nash was first in the high jump and third in the 200m. Anya Peeples was second in the shot put.”

The track and field Cougars head to Riverbank for a TVL showdown on April 6.