Local high school track and field programs have been busy over the last two weeks with league championships taking place, with the Turlock, Hughson and Denair programs clinching championships.
Central California Athletic League
Turlock High had already claimed this year’s CCAL boys and girls team titles earlier this year, but individuals never lacked motivation in quests to become league champions at Joe Debely Stadium on May 5.
One of those was Turlock senior Larson Wejmar, who has made a happen of collecting hardware at the annual conference meet. Committed to compete at Stanislaus State next year, Wejmar claimed gold in the 1600 (4:31.66) and 3200 (9:49.65), setting new meet records in each event. He also teamed up with Zayn Hamilton, Porter Petty and Gabriel Avalos to win the 4x800 relay (9:25.65).
Another relay win for Turlock’s boys came in the 4x400, when the group of Hamilton, Ricardo Lacerda, Naythan Diaz and Ismael Hernandez won with a time of 3:26.69.
Tadeus Oppenhuizen also won multiple boy’s events, claiming the pole vault (14-09) and the triple jump (42-10.25).
Other Turlock winners in boys events were seniors Camden Smith in the 110-meter hurdles (14.68), junior Tanner Linhares in discus (158-00) and sophomore Anthony Brown in the long jump (22-08.50).
Pitman received wins from juniors Eli Scott in the 800 (2:04.96) and Dante Jenkings in the 300-meter hurdles (40.51).
In girls competition, the Bulldogs won all but four events, including a sweep of relay races. Serene Klair, Gabriela Martin, Ava Josephine Mello and Faviola Hernandez won the 4x100 (50.07); Hernandez, Mylie Olson, Haylee Whiting and Claire Johnson won the 4x400 (4:11.11); and Olson, Ashley Diaz, Gisela Hernandez and Elizabeth Christopher won the 4x800 (10:55.46).
Olson and Hernandez, both juniors, also notched individual wins. Olson claimed the 800 (2:21.24) and Hernandez won the 400 (59.33). Sophomore Ellison Williams, meanwhile, won the 1600 (5:06.51) and 3200 (11:12.78).
Other Turlock winners were sophomore Naomi Fernandez in the 100-meter hurdles (16.50), senior Mayeli Mattison in the 300-meter hurdles (46.91), junior Emma Trevor in the pole vault (10-11.00), freshman Piper Oppenhuizen in the long jump (17-08.75), junior Praise Ingram in the triple jump (38-02.50) and junior Haley Stiles in the high jump.
Senior Saveena Gadri earned Pitman’s lone victory in the shot put for the second straight year with a distance of 34-01.00.
Trans-Valley League
The Hughson program also claimed team titles for both its boys and girls teams at the TVL Championships on May 7 at Ripon High.
Grace Benitez and Bailey Bilson each contributed to multiple victories in girls events. Individually, Bilson, a senior, won the 200 (27.59) and Benitez, a junior, won the 800 (2:24.35).
Bilson and Benitez were also on the 4x400 relay team alongside Jaelyne Anguiano and Malia Sloan that won with a time of 4:13.89. Additionally, Benitez joined Maritza Gonzalez, Noeli Gomez-Orozco and Allison Landeverde to post a time of 10:19.73 to win the 4x800 relay. Another relay win, the 4x100, was won by Addison Yarbrough, Regan Henry, Brooklyn Foss and Keylee Lundquist with a mark of 50.75.
Junior Emily Van Gaalen wrapped the wins for the Lady Huskies with a top distance of 111 feet, 2 inches in the discus.
The Huskies had only two wins in boys events, but consistency in the form of eight runner-up finishes proved key in maintaining position near the top of the team leaderboard. Wins came courtesy of junior Manuel Ruins in the 800 (2:04.30) and senior Bryce Williams in the pole vault (14-6.00).
Southern Athletic League
For the second straight season, the Denair boys program sits atop the Southern League. The Coyotes clinched the consecutive team title on April 29, posting a team score of 184 and clearing runner-up and host school Waterford by 42 points. Three Denair athletes earned multiple wins on the afternoon.
Senior Salvador Virgen won both the 1600 (5:15.14) and the pole vault (9-6.00). Junior Chase Steeley claimed the 100 (11.05) and the long jump (21-11.50). Sophomore Jude Moody won the 300-meter hurdles (41.61) and the triple jump (39-3.50).
Junior Harlan Brown won another individual event, the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 16.01.
The Coyotes also posted a win in the 4x800 relay, with the team of Chace Butler, Jorge Flores, Jose Ponce and Juan Rico posting a time of 9:42.21.
Denair only had one win in the girls events, with senior Emma Sariemento winning the triple jump with a leap of 30 feet, 2.75 inches. The Lady Coyotes also had five runner-up finishes.
Divisionals on deck
Divisional trials began Tuesday and will continue Wednesday. All seven divisional finals will take place Saturday from Hughes Stadium at Sacramento City College.
