Trojans blaze to track titles

Every track and field athlete aspires to compete in the league meet even in this strange year. Hundreds of athletes from many schools challenged the Trojans at Hayward High School on April 17, but both the CVHS varsity girls and varsity boys teams managed to secure victories and league championships.

Notable winners for the Trojans included sophomore Lynee Sims in the girls 100 meters, 200 meters and the long jump.

“I’m super excited about winning the 100 meters, 200 meters, and long jump! As a sophomore in high school, conquering the WACC championships in three different events for my first full season is pretty cool,” exclaimed Sims.

Senior Miles Bennett captured the boys high jump and triple jump. 

“I was so pumped to see the bar stay up after my jump,” said Bennett. “I knew first place was huge for the team because first place earns 10 points and every point matters.”

Nolan Slader won the boys 300 meter hurdles, sophomore Naomi Sachs triumphed in the girls high jump, and Nicolas Guevara-Longree won the boys long jump.

“It feels good to place first in any event! For me, the 300 meter hurdles is a tough event, considering the long distance you have to sprint and all the hurdles in between, so being able to get first in that and staying in the lead the whole time without anyone passing me made me feel like I achieved something great,” said Slader, a junior.

High finishes in events earns points for the team, the number of points depending on the event. Considering the boys varsity team narrowly defeated the second place team, Berkeley High School, by a mere 2.5 points, every score was critical to the 111-108.5 win. The girls team won more comfortably, defeating nearest rival Berkeley 136.5-111.

“I was honestly very excited to be putting forward points in order for the overall team to win. Winning the high jump this weekend was a very big accomplishment for me. At the beginning of the year, I was struggling in the high jump but winning this meet boosted my confidence,” said Sachs.

Trojans delivered great performances in the April 13 WACC Novice Invitational also. Freshman Roy McNabb won the boys 800 meters and 1,600 meters. Freshman Marissa Meza won the girls 100 meters and 200 meters, and ran on the winning 4×400 meters relay. And freshman Delaney Rasmussen won the girls 400 meters and 800 meters, and also ran on the winning 4×400 meters relay. 

Regardless of this shortened season, many athletes achieved personal records. Overall, this league showcased the incredible achievements of the Trojans’ track and field athletes and their hard work over this short season that ultimately led to the teams’ victories.