Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Opening Weekend for Warriors Track & Field

The Valley Christian Track & Field team opens its season this week with split squad action as the distance runners compete under the Friday night lights at the Dan Gabor Invitational while the sprinters and jumpers will compete in Los Gatos at the K-Bell Invitational Saturday.

The Warriors boast their largest team ever in school history with nearly 100 student-athletes on the roster in addition to adding five new coaches to the staff this spring.

Sprints

The sprinters return a talented core of runners that include Shelby Smallwood, Mary Ellen Bradley and Robriana Johnson who qualified last season for the State Championship in the 4 x 100 meters. Smallwood, who is currently #3 all-time for the Warriors qualified for the state championship as a freshman, finished 5th last season in the 100 meters. Freshman Taylor Johnson is also expected to contribute.

For the boys Ryan Severson is the top returner in the sprints. Severson will play for football for the University of Colorado next fall had a breakthrough season where he finished 6th in the section at 100 meters and 8th in the 200. He ran a personal best 10.92 in the 100 meters and 22.18 at the WCAL championship where he was runner up in both events. He is currently the 6th fastest all-time for the Warriors in both the 100 and 200 meters.

Distance

For the distances Jessica Xu and Ashley Lara look to carry their success from the cross country season onto the track this spring. Xu and Lara earned all-WCAL and all-CCS honors respectably with Ashley Lara qualifying for the State Championship as an individual. They will be supported by Karen Mac and Shannon Luu who placed 2nd and 3rd in the 800 meters last season at JV, while seniors Kellianne Connolly and Amy Reyes add depth for the Warriors. Freshman Kailey Eddy has shown promise and will be a solid addition to this year’s squad in the longer distances as well.

The boys have one of their deepest squads in years following a record breaking season in the fall as three athletes moved onto CCS. Eyobed Mesfun enters the season with a 4:42 personal best at 1600 meters and 10:26 for 3200. He was the top runner for the Warriors in cross country running a personal best 16:50 at Crystal Springs. Alex Ascencio had a breakthrough season of his own and finished the season earning an individual birth to CCS and enters with a personal best of 4:50 for 1600 meters. Matt Lundy returns following a strong freshman year where he ran 2:12 for 800 meters. He is joined by new comers Jason Li and Jeremy Dong both expected to be key contributors.

Jumps

Robriana Johnson, Lydia Sum, Elaine Ma are three of the most talented triple jumpers to come through Valley Christian. Johnson finished the season with a personal best of 35-10.5 and is currently #2 all-time for the Warriors. Lydia Sum set the WCAL Record at the Championship meet last season winning the JV division as a freshman. Elaine Ma also has shown she is a top contender with a mark of 31-11, currently #7 all-time for the Warriors. Johnson and Ma are also top returners in the High Jump as well reaching 4-10 last season.

Throws

Ronna Stone is coming off of a breakthrough year in the shot put with a mark of 36-2 at the WCAL Championship meet. She shattered the record in the JV division and will now chase the Kiely Smith’s school record of 40’ 8” that has stood since 2006. She will be pushed by freshman Elena Bruckner who is showing huge improvements and promise in the early pre-season.

The boys will led by top returner Samuel Acomb who will look to breakthrough in the discus this season. He will be joined by Fa’auli Gaoteote and other new comers who have shown promise in the early practices this season.


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