End of Year Top 10 Wrap Up

As XC and track basically follows the school calendar this is the end of the year/season for me. As I have done in a few years past I am going to attempt to recap the moments that were the highlights for me.

1. RELIEF and RELEASE: The top moment for me was the culmination of four years of frustration for Gregori's Briseida Garcia-Meza. Because of injuries (two broken feet) she had failed to qualify for the State meet. At this year's SJS Masters meet, in the rain, I watched it unfold in what seemed like slow-motion as she struggled to the finish line getting passed once, twice, and almost a third time. But on this day she would hang on to third place and thus qualify for State. As I went over to congratulate her, she was exhausted, wet, and emotional. I reminded her of the struggles she had overcome to achieve this moment and she began to cry. I hugged her, and as we both stood in the rain, I began to cry too. It is a moment I will always remember and hold special. For her it was a pure emotional relief and release. I just happened to be there to share it.

2. INVITATIONS: Although I take hundreds of photos of many local runners over their possible four years of high school competition, only a few speak to me more than a nod and a wave. This year I was invited to Pitman's Mavleen Mann's signing ceremony for UC Davis. Unfortunately I was unable to leave work and attend, but it meant the world to me that she would want me to be there.

Also for only the second time I was invited to a graduation party. Hughson's Emily Fife allowed me and my wife to participate in the joyous celebration of her graduation and her moving on to BYU Idaho. I felt honored by the invitation.

3. WITNESSING HISTORY: On the day I posted that "I was there..." As I photograph and note names and times many will fade into cyberspace and be lost in my memory. But the CCAL Track Championship this year I will remember. It was the day that both Briseida Garcia-Meza and Madison Kackley (Gregori) would break 5 flat in the 1600m. Prior to that day only 3 StanCo girls had ever broken five minutes...now that number is 5. On that day we all witnessed a chunk of StanCo history being made.

4. ASSAULT ON THE ALL-TIME LISTS: I love to add names to the StanCo All-Time lists for XC and track. It means that the runners are not only doing well against today's competition but also against the ghosts of history. Once the medals are packed away in a shoe box and life beyond HS and running takes over, it is those names cemented on the all-time lists that will live on to inspire the future generations. This year Briseida ran 2:12.01 to rank #3 in the 800m and 4:56.15 for #2 in the 1600m. She also lands at #11 for Donnelly Park, #7 at Legion, #14 at Woodward, and #8 for Willow Hills. Maddie Kackley was just as impressive placing #4 at 4:58.52 in the 1600m and 10:39.35 to place 11th in the State and #2 all-time for StanCo. She also is #1 at Woodward, #3 at Donnelly, #2 at Legion, and #9 at Willow Hills. Oakdale's super frosh Haleigh Humble ran 11:07.27 for #8 on the all-time list. Her teammate, Kayden Legan is #15 at 11:10.98. Pitman's Mavleen Mann rocked the XC courses placing #5 at Donnelly, #4 at Legion, #7 at Willow Hills, and #9 at Woodward. Hughson's Emily Fife places #15 on both the Willow Hills and Woodward courses. On the boy's side it was Modesto's Alan Guerrero at #10 for Legion and #6 for Willow Hills. Most recently it was Pitman's Jayson Martin edging onto the boy's all-time 800m list at #14 with a 1:55.72 mark.

5. T-SHIRTS and SMILES: I handed out 56 T-shirts this year (and I owe someone one). Even though my wife frowns each time I order more, to me the smiles are worth the cost. 25 shirts went to Runners of the week during XC. That was 25 runners from 12 different StanCo schools. It takes effort to get around to the different schools, but I like seeing the kids in person. I also greatly appreciate the coaches who allow me to stop by their practices. 15 shirts went to seniors who applied for the StanCo scholarship. 6 more shirts went to the male and female distance event champions at the Stanislaus County track meet. 4 shirts went to the two boys (Hughson's Austin Hoach and Turlock's Eric Hernandez) who broke 10 in the 3200m and the two girls (Oakdale's Haleigh Humble and Gregori's Maddie Kackley) who broke 12 in the 3200m. I still owe Maddie hers. The final 7 shirts went to the runners mentioned in point #4 (Garcia-Meza, Kackley, Mann, Humble, Legan, Fife, and Guerrero) who stamped their spots on one or more of the all-time lists. I guess I owe Jayson one too now.

6. THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT: With the graduation of legends like Garcia-Meza, Guerrero, Fife, and Mann (to name just a few) it is easy to see that there is a void to fill. Incredible (previously mentioned runners) are still competing (Kackley, Humble, Legan...), but it is the ones who still may grow into those big shoes, those who are good and may become great, that I find so intriguing. I am going to list some (all 9th and 10th graders) who have caught my eye as of late and I am excited by their potential: Enoch's Emily By, Modesto's Noheli Ron , Turlock's Cynthia Varela and Fatima Chavez, Central Catholic's Ashley Sams, Downey's Bronson Bickel, Turlock's Brody Vecchione, Gavin Valenzuela, and Eric Hernandez,  Central Valley's Christian Balderas, Pitman's Damian Garcia, Zac Blood, Efren Sanchez, and Ben Plaa, and Gregori's Jake McBay.

7. STATE OR BUST: NBA players all aspire at the beginning of the season to get their team into the championship game...HS runner aspire to reach the State meet. This year in track Gregori's Garcia-Meza qualified and placed 7th in the 800m in a new PR of 2:12.01. Maddie Kackley (Gregori) also qualified in the 1600m and 3200m. In the 1600m she placed 15th in the Prelims. In the 3200m she was 11th in an OMG, #2 all-time StanCo time of 10:39.35. In XC the Waterford boys qualified for State as a team in D5 as did the Hughson ladies in D4. Individually Modesto's Alan Guerrero qualified in D1, as did Garcia-Meza, Kackley and Pitman's Mavleen Mann for the ladies. In D3 Oakdale's Kayden Legan and Haleigh Humble both made it. In D5 ladies Central Catholic's Ashley Sams qualified. The best performances were Kackley's 12th place in D1 in the fastest time ever by a StanCo lady, and Hughson's Fife placed 22nd in D4 ladies.

8. CONDITIONS: Well weather is the X-factor for both track and XC. Cooler weather for most of the XC season led to some crazy fast times. Smoke from the Camp Fire caused the Section XC meet to be postponed and the non-varsity portions to be canceled. Rain canceled SAL track meet #2 (after I drove down to Atwater). It was freezing the night of the County meet. And then there was SJS Masters....it was a complete wet-fest. In spite of it all, kids are kids and I am sure that I complained more than they did.

9. SCHOLARSHIP: For the second year I gave out a $500 StanCo Scholarship. I adjusted the criteria slightly to open it up to more runners. Some of the applicants were missing portions of the packet and others didn't fill it out completely...things to stress more next year. I was encouraged by the greater number of applicants (5 last year to 15 this year) but that certainly made the selection tougher. One of the highlights of the year was when I attended the Turlock HS scholarship assembly personally to hand Sofia Andres her scholarship check.

10. PHOTO OPS: I am a pretty shy guy. I generally gravitate AWAY from others. I don't like small talk. It doesn't mean I don't like people or I don't crave companionship...it is my personal paradox. I do love it when kids want photos with me. It warms my heart and makes me feel valued and less invisible.