The track is quiet. The athletes take their marks. Spectators feel the anticipation. Then the track gun goes off and so do the runners. This is not just any meet but the Meet of Champions.
This is where a select seven athletes proved themselves on May 23 to 25 at the California University of Pennsylvania. These athletes ran jumped for a chance to make it to the State Championships at Buchanan High School in Clovis.
On May 18 to 19, at the Bayshore Area Championship, seniors Jake Pacheco, Lauren Remer, Julian Frost, and Natalie Kucirek received the First-Team all area honors.
Although 15 people originally qualified for the League Championships at Castro Valley High School, only eight made it to the next round. From those eight, Junior Spencer Kim and Senior Kucirek were not able to attend due to the school band trip. The top seven in each event were allowed to move on.
Pacheco attributes the large number of qualifiers to his coaching staff and their overall commitment to the team.
“We are fortunate to have a very talented and experienced coaching staff,” Pacheco said. “Each one of our coaches has both a wealth of knowledge and a passion for the sport”
According to dyestat, the seniors dominated for the most part. Pacheco placed third for long jump, Dalton sixth for the 200 meter, Frost got second for the 3200 meter, Remer placed third for the 400 m and 5th for the 200 m, and Kucirek placed third for pole vaulting.
In addition, the relay team (4×100) also qualified with seniors William Meredith, Pacheco, Dalton, and Junior Kim who was replaced by sophomore Renzo Downey.
Also, Sophomore Sophia Mills placed fifth in the mile and tenth in the 800 m. Her mile PR is 5:20.73 while her 800 PR is 2:25.73.
On May 25 to 26 the team went back to work at Berkeley’s Edwards Stadium to try and make it to the next level. According to dyestat.com, Mills actually beat her PR and ran a 5:09.34 for the mile. Remer also placed seventh with a time of 57.24 for the 400 meter dash. Additionally, Dalton made it to the finals with a time of 22.41in the 200 meter and Frost placed 12 with a time of 9:42.10. Pacheco, however, was disqualified because he stepped over the line on each of his jumps.
Mills is a lone underclassman girl amongst a group dominated by upperclassmen and said that it is a good experience being on the same team as them.
“It was a good way for me to get to know upperclassman and a lot of them have been really competitive in track before so they can give me advice,” Mills said.
“its just about going to practice everyday,” Mills said. “It is also good to do invitationals during the season so you can get experience running with people who are really good and very fast.”
With Mills’s times she is now eligible for the Meet of Champions and she attributes her success to her training. Mills’ coach, Chris Thayer, encourages her to run at the same pace as her PR (personal record) and to run as if she were in a meet.
“During workouts, I will try to run at pace with what my personal record is in the mile,” Mills said. “I prepare by trying to determine the feeling so that during a race I know how to run.”
Mills said that she is motivated by setting goals and trying to accomplish them and also said it is great feeling even if you do not win to get a PR in a race.
“I like the feeling of running because its individual within your event but also there is a team aspect where you have people you become close to because you train with them every day” Mills said.
Pacheco said that this year was incredible and he is happy that his teammates were there to push each other to succeed.
“In track, it’s so easy to become isolated in your event but I think that the team had a great chemistry this year, leading to a social, fun environment,” he said.
Frost, Dalton, and Pacheco will be competing in the Golden West Meet at Cal on June eight.
