The Escalon High School Track and Field teams competed at the Trans-Valley League Finals at Riverbank High School on Thursday, May 10. The girls finished third and the boys were fifth out of the seven TVL teams.
The top three finishers in each event qualified to compete at the Sac-Joaquin Section Prelims on Tuesday, May 15 at Chavez High School in Stockton. Both running and field events were scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
“Even though, as a team, we didn’t have an ideal showing, we had some outstanding individual performances,” said Head Coach Carrie Nash.
Senior Jessikka Gonzales competed in four events and qualified in all four. Gonzales recorded personal bests in taking third place in both the long and triple jumps. She was second in the high jump and ran an impressive leg on the 4x100 meter relay team, finishing second.
“Jessikka has really stepped it up this year. She works hard and she’s a tough competitor mentally,” said Nash.
Senior Jackie Lau finished a solid second place in both the 100m and 200m and is part of the 4x100m relay team as well with Alex Titsworth and Gabby Rigg rounding the qualifying 4x100m. Senior Shelby McCune was the lone Lady Cougar to bring home a TVL title, earning gold in the discus by throwing 101’ 03”. She also placed second in the shot put.
“Shelby has this quiet confidence about her and gets the job done when it’s time to compete,” noted Nash.
On the boys’ side, sophomore Juan Lopez won the 1600m, running 4:44.45. Lopez also took third in the 800m giving him two events to compete in at Chavez.
The remainder of the qualifying boys were senior Christian Brunetti, third in the long and triple jumps, senior Zach Pickett, third in the 400m. The 4x100m relay team of Rex Robbins, Thaddeus Stern, Isaias Martinez, and Jake Lewis took second while the team of Robbins, Chavez, Lopez and Pickett also took second in the 4x400m relay.