Plenty of solid performances propelled a number of Cougars into this week’s Divisional track and field competition, hitting qualifying marks during the Trans-Valley League meet on Thursday, May 15. Competition was hosted at Oakdale High School, athletes battling temperatures in the upper 90s but also getting a bit of a breeze during the afternoon’s events.

Hughson High School (131 points) won the boys Trans-Valley League championship by going undefeated through the dual meet part of the season and winning the league meet final. Escalon’s boys (67 points) took fourth in the dual meets and also fourth at the championships.

Hughson’s girls repeated as league champs, taking first in the duals and second (131 points) at the championships. Modesto Christian’s girls (151) won the team title at the league final meet. Escalon’s girls were fourth after the duals’ season and were sixth (32 points) at the championship meet, placing fourth overall.

“The league was very deep in talent this year,” commented coach Roger Beeman. “Our kids did a really great job. Fourth was what we thought we’d get if everyone did well. That moves us up a spot or two from where we’ve been the last couple of years, and our younger kids have been at the top of the league the last two years, so we’re really happy about the direction we’re going.”

The Cougars have eight athletes continuing on to the Section’s Division 3-4-5 Meet (Tuesday and Thursday) at Stanislaus State. Qualifiers are: Christian May (19' 71/2" long jump), Matt Gallego (144' 8" discus), Blaine Nebe (124’ 11” discus) Samuel Lattig (53.42 400 meters), Caleb Hansen (16.31 110 meter high hurdles), David Esparza (10' 6" pole vault), Yajaira Salinas (2:24.17 800 meters and 5:36.0 1600 meters), and Leone Rivers (4' 8" high jump and 8' 6" pole vault).