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Track & Field team shows skills

Zoe Cuarto twirls to launch the discus as she competes in the 2024 Western League Finals. (photo by Jim Wick)

Track & Field team shows skills

By Hector Trujillo

The Scripps Ranch High School (SRHS) track and field team left with its head held high after several noteworthy individual and team performances at the Western League Finals held on May 3 at University City High School.

“There were a lot of improvements from last year,” said SRHS head track and field coach Kadrina Coffee. “My overall goal was ending the season strong and advancing.”

Among the standouts were senior Amare Shaw who won the long jump event (23 feet) and sophomore Nathan Bamford who won the 1,600 meters (4:22.05). In total, 17 males and 12 females from Scripps Ranch High School qualified individually from the Western League Finals for the CIF San Diego Section D2 Championships which were also at University City High on May 11.

“I don’t remember having 17 go into CIF last year for boys,” Coffee said. “We may have had that many for girls, but they are definitely a stronger group this season with more determination and a stronger will.”

Among the other notable Scripps Ranch standouts were: Senior Tiffany Stoughton, first place (59.63) and freshman Tegan Koranda, fourth place (1:01.02) in the 400 meters. Junior Thijs van Eldik Thieme, first place (1:57.70) in the 800 meters. Senior Luke Barajas, sixth place (22.97) followed by sophomore Nicholas Cheng, 14th place (23.52) and junior Ryan Stadtherr, 15th place (23.63) in the 200 meters. Junior Markell Martin, sixth place (52.32), Luke Barajas, seventh place (52.77), senior Marley Randolph, eighth place (52.84) and junior Ryan Stad-therr, ninth (52.93) in the 400 meters. Juniors Eyleen Bayer, seventh place (27.73) and Madeline Hanks, 13th place (28.35) in the girls 200 meters. The Scripps Ranch High girls team also finished second in the 4 x 800 meter relay with the boys finishing in third place at the same distance.

“They all want to go further and want to be on to the bigger stages,” Coffee said. “As long as we can improve from year to year and get on those bigger stages, Scripps Ranch High School’s name will be out there a lot more.”

The 104th CIF State Championships will be held at the 10,000 seat Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in Clovis, Calif., on May 24 and 25. The top individual and team performers from the CIF San Diego South Section Championships – held on May 18 at Mt. Carmel High School – will be among those advancing to the state championships.

Tristan Reyna gives it everything he has during relay competition at the Western League Finals. (photo by Jim Wick)