Strength, speed, discipline, and confidence are qualities the Highlanders showed through the Coastal Canyon League Finals on April 24 at Moorpark High School. Each individual showed their hard work and determination throughout the track meet. They were able to win 12 titles at the track finals, boys won 5, girls won 5, and 2 relay victories. In track and field there are a series of events that include running, jumping, and throwing for men and women. They spend countless hours learning technique and skill to become better athletes. This meet was important for the Highlanders. It determined if they were qualified to go to CIFs and continue their season. The jumping events included high jump, long jump, triple jump, and pole vault. The running events included dashes, distance, relays, and hurdles. The throwing events included discus and shot put. From the beginning to the end the HIghlanders showed energy and support for each other which led them to have an extremely successful meet.
JUMPING EVENTS
In the jumping events one specific person stuck out from the rest of the teams in the events, senior Quincie Richards. Anyone could see Richards confidence and skill during her events. She was not only able to win one title in the jump events, but two for the Highlanders. In her first event of long jump she was able to win the title with a score of 18-06.50. In her second event in triple jump she won with a score of 49-02.25. Aside from winning both titles she also set the school record in triple jump and set a school and meet record in winning her second league long jump. Senior Denzel Pleitez said, “Quincie only brings the team up, during practice she shows nothing but good energy and skill. All of us are proud of her accomplishments and hope to see her succeed in CIFs, if anyone deserves to win it’s Quincie.”
THROWING EVENTS
The Highlanders did not only have success in the jumping events, they were able to get three more titles in throwing events. Senior Sean Sandwick was able to beat his brother with a score of 46-11.00 with his brother Charlie Sandwick, senior, getting second with a score of 44-04.00. Both qualifying for CIFs for shot put. In pole vault Ava Hermansen, senior, and Graham LaBass, junior, were able to win the title for Pole Vault. Hermansen with a score of 10-03.00 and LaBass with a score of 13-06.00.
RUNNING EVENTS
The girls and boys started the running events with a victory in 4×100 meter relay. Quincie Richards, senior, Olivia Kirk, sophomore, Sydney Biscoe, senior, and Celine Munguia, senior, worked together in the relay race to take first place with a time of 48.91 seconds taking them to CIFs. Shortly after Thenuk Chandrasekera, senior Preston Binns, senior, Thomas DeJong, junior, and Benjamin Kirk, junior, also took the victory in this event with a time of 42.46 seconds. Kirk said, “Every individual here spends countless hours practicing preparing for this moment, there is a lot of pressure being this event knowing three other people are depending on me to execute perfectly. Luckily, I have the best three girls on my side who do nothing but bring me up. It is not just a physical sport it is a mental sport, if any of us were in a bad headspace we would not have won.”
In the 1600 meter run, senior Asher Lee was able to win it all with a time of 4:21:64. He showed determination and discipline throughout all four minutes, he was able to keep the same speed throughout all four laps and lead the Highlanders to this victory. Maria Ortiz, parent in crowd, said, “Asher has always been a key person on the track team. Some of the boys here even look up to him because he never fails to fight all the way to the finish line.” Lee has not only won a ticket to CIFs but has also inspired others to push through the end. Lee was a double champion, he not only won the 1600 meter run but won the 800 meter run with a time of 55:36. Olivia Kirk won the Highlanders another title in the 100 meter dash while Chandrasekera got second both qualifying for CIFs. In the 200 meter dash both girls and boys won the title leading the Highlanders to CIFs in this event. Olivia Kirk with a time of 24.83 and Preston Binns with a time of 21.84. Finally, in the last running event Highlanders were able to win two more titles in the 4×400 meter relay. Sydney Biscoe, Madison Boucher, Andrea Carbajal Ortiz, and Olivia Kirk were able to win with a time of 4:07 and Graham LeBass, Benjamin Kirk, Preston Binns, and Asher Lee were able to win with a time of 3:26.
The Highlanders did not only show their energy on the track field but also showed their energy and support in the crowd. During and after events everyone could hear the Highlanders cheering for their teammates, supporting and encouraging as much as they could. Preston Binns, senior, was a key teammate during the whole meet. He showed energy toward every Highlander. He was seen and heard cheering and celebrating every one of his teammates’ victory. He was in the front row excited to see everyone’s success. With energy, discipline, and determination the Highlanders were able to win 12 titles and qualify for CIFs in many events. They are hoping for another successful turnout in CIFs. Qualified athletes have next attended CIF D2 Prelims at Ontario High School on May 4.
