Field athletes finish season strong
Karlie Brown is in the middle of her high jump.
May 23, 2014
Tracy High’s track and field varsity boys came in second and varsity girls came in fourth at the SJAA league meet at Chavez High School in Stockton on May 14-16. The season ended with a strong finish, with varsity boys first overall in the league at 4-1, and varsity girls at 3-2.
“It’s been a really good season,” Fishburn said. “We had a huge amount of participation, the biggest track team we’ve ever had. The kids performed well. They all improved, and in the end, that’s what it’s all about.”
At the SJAA league meet, three athletes in varsity boys placed in the top five for shot put and discus. Two individuals were gold medalists for the field events: senior George Obinna, who won the varsity boys’ shot put with a throw of 47’55.5”, and sophomore Alicia Woo, who won the varsity girls’ pole vault with a jump of 9’5”.
The top four athletes in every event at the SJAA league meet go onto the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I meet, which will be held at Elk Grove High School on May 21 and 23. Coach Fishburn outlined the competition process after divisionals.
“The top eight can go to masters, and then the top three from masters go to state,” Fishburn said.
Field athletes who advanced to divisionals for varsity boys are: Noah Anderson, Devin Foster, Adam Gasior, Haiden Hall, Obinna, Luke Pulliam, and Greg Trevino. Varsity girls athletes in field events going to divisionals are: Micah Fithian and Alicia Woo. Freshman-sophomore boys athletes in field events going to divisionals are: Jordan Baker, Jose Cuevas, and Dominic Splan. Haley DeGuzman is the lone freshman-sophomore female athlete in field advancing to divisionals.
Coach Fishburn talked about his confidence in Woo’s potential this year and next year.
“Alicia Woo was my most improved player,” Fishburn said. “She increased her personal best by four and a half feet, which is huge. She is in the battle to win league titles as a sophomore, that’s impressive.”
Woo’s current record is 10 feet and the school record for varsity girls’ pole vault is 11’4.25”. Although no new records were broken this year, Fishburn is confident that Woo will break the school record for varsity girls’ pole vault before she graduates.
Fishburn also sees a lot of potential in sophomore Mikaela Mizuno, who pole vaults and long jumps.
“She’s brand new. It’s her first year doing track,” Fishburn said. “She works hard, doesn’t miss practice, helps set up and puts things away—just a good kid overall.”
Mizuno’s personal record is 7 feet in the pole vault. At the SJAA meet, Mizuno pole-vaulted 5’11” in the freshman-sophomore girls division.
“I think that day I was kind of tired, so I wasn’t doing everything right, but I think that I definitely have improved the season,” Mizuno said. “I learned a lot, and I really liked it.”
If athletes advance to the state level, the last meet—the state meet—will be at Buchanan High School in Fresno on June 7.
