Field athletes have promising showings in competition
Senior George Obinna throws the shot put.
April 18, 2014
Although the Tracy High’s varsity boys’ defeated Lodi for the first time in 15 years, it lost a close meet to Bear Creek High School on April 10.
Coach Jay Fishburn expressed his satisfaction with the season so far.
“I feel really good about this season,” Fishburn said. “We beat Lodi for the first time in about 15 years.”
For the Bear Creek meet, Tracy High School’s varsity boys were initially reported to win first place, but due to some disqualifications factored into the score, Tracy’s varsity boys ended up losing to Bear Creek High School by three points.
Fishburn commented on how a fewer number of female athletes on the varsity girls’ team has affected their results.
“They’re doing okay. We lost to Bear Creek, and they lost to Lodi as well. They’re 0-2,” Fishburn said. “We just don’t have as many female athletes and that hurts the team. We can’t cover all the events. If we can’t cover the events, other teams put people in them and they’ll automatically win.”
One of the top athletes in the shot put event is senior George Obinna, who won the shot put event at Bear Creek High School by throwing 46’ 11”.
“George practices every day. He’s working hard. He’s just stand throwing right now,” Fishburn said. “It’s his first year and he continues to improve, so we have high expectations for him.”
In addition to shot put, Obinna, who played football for two years, has also participated in long jump and ran the 100 meters.
Obinna has his goal set for the season.
“I want to throw a 50 feet for a shot,” Obinna said. “I think I can reach it because I get better every week.”
Obinna has his focus more on the sport itself, rather than the results of each meet.
“I don’t care about winning,” Obinna said. “I just want to get the technique down, because I have been stand-throwing. I really want to get the spin down so it’ll get my throws a lot further.”
One of the top athletes in the high jump and pole vault events is junior Karlie Brown, who finished first in high jump and third in pole vault at the Bear Creek meet.
Fishburn is optimistic about what Brown can accomplish.
“It’s her first year on varsity. She was the freshman-sophomore league champion last year in the pole vault,” Fishburn said. “She’s just continuing to get better. She has a chance to do really well on the high jump, so we’re looking for her to do well on both the high jump and pole vault.”
This is Brown’s third year in track and field. However, Brown also competes in cheer, and this is her 11th year doing cheer. Brown feels being in cheer has helped her with high jump and pole vault.
“Learning how to control and manipulate my body, especially bending it, have helped me with high jump and pole vault,” Brown said.
She has her goals set for the season.
“For high jump, I want to clear five feet and hopefully win league again,” Brown said. “For pole vault, I want to clear eight feet and to do well in league as well.”
Brown affirmed that her goals are attainable.
“I’m very close to achieving them,” Brown said. “As for right now, I am second in league for high jump, I’m not sure where I am in pole vault, but I’m pretty close to reaching the height for being cleared in pole vault.”
The next meet for all team members will be at Lincoln High School on May 1. The next home meet will be against Chavez High School on May 8.
