Tess Whittet, Alde Nguyen
Sports Editor, Online Sports Editor
Faced with the biggest event of the year, many participants from the Mira Costa track team raced past their goals at the 2017 California State Track Championships.
Four members from the Mira Costa track team qualified at the 2017 California Interscholastic Federation State Track Championships at Clovis High School on Saturday. Performers including senior Shante Robinson, senior Malia Chittenden, senior Caleb Llorin, and sophomore Brigette Grau excelled in their individual competitions helping Costa place 8th out of 80 schools.
“This was one of the best years that Costa has ever had at the track State meet,” Chittenden said. “It is just a really hard thing to do especially because the southern section is so competitive.”
Brigette Grau competed in the pole vaulting State championships on June 3 at Clovis High School, after making it through State prelims the day before. Grau ultimately did not win State but placed 12th out of 14, by jumping 12’6”.
“She just handled it well and actually her last attempt, even though she didn’t make it, was her best burst of energy the whole weekend,” pole vaulting coach Murray Mead said. “What she did the best was handle the pressure and persevere and make it to the the end.”
Llorin competed in State for the 3200 meter race and finished with a time of 9:16, placing him 12th overall. According to coach Roberto Calderon, Llorin had a phenomenal season and made his second best mark at State
“It wasn’t my best race, but I put in my best effort so I’m happy with it,” Llorin said. “This meet was amazing, watching history in the making, not only for our school, but in the country as well.”
Robinson placed third in the hurdles 300 meter race with a time of 40.84. Robinson also competed in the 100 meter, where she placed 5th with a time of 13.66. Both of Robinson’s scores broke Costa’s varsity record times and her scores made her third in California and fifth in the nation.
“I am very happy with my performance and that I finished the season with personal record in both events,” Robinson said.
Chittenden participated in the two mile race, where she placed third. Chittenden’s time was 10:19, braking Costa’s 2 mile varsity record. According to track coach Renee Smith, this year Chittenden knew what she was going to do, she knew who the competitors were, and she knew what she needed to do to get there.
“This year I really came into the state meet hoping to give it everything I had,” Chittenden said. “It was not only my second time at state but a meet that I could redeme myself from last year and my last track meet in high school.”
Three of the four competitors will be attending division one colleges for track next year. Robinson will be attending the University of Southern California, Chittenden will be running for Princeton University and Llorin will attending California Polytechnic State University. Grau will continue to pole vault at Costa next year for her junior year.
“I look forward to running another four years at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and connecting with new people who love to do what I do,” Llorin said. “I’m also excited about persusing my dream to become a physical therapist.”
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