Leaving the others behind

Four Mid-Valley track and field athletes ran their way to the pinnacle of their prep sport — berths at the State Track Meet.

For their efforts, freshman Jessica Carpenter of Wheatland High, and seniors Sarah Nichols of Gridley, Darius Ray of Sutter and Joey Villasenor have been named the Appeal-Democrat's track and field athletes of the year.

JESSICA CARPENTER

Although only a freshman, Carpenter has just one more year to run as a Wheatland Pirate. Her father is in the Air Force, stationed at Beale, and he will be transferred.

With that in the back of her mind, Carpenter hopes to make the most of next year.

"I want to go back to State," Carpenter said, in both track and cross country.

Carpenter ran in the State cross country meet last fall and ran the 400 at the State track meet.

"I also want to have more confidence when I run," Carpenter said of another goal.

Carpenter said she really did not think she would reach the State Meet in the 400.

"I was pretty down on myself," she said.

Carpenter said she and Angelica Cahee of Las Plumas usually traded off winning races and Cahee had won the week before at the Northern Section Division meet.

The key to her win at the Section Masters Meet — the highlight of her season — was that "I dug down deep. You always have more than you think you have."

Top track and field marks

BOYS

100 meters: Darius Ray, Sr., Sutter, 10.8 seconds

200: Darius Ray, Sr., Sutter, 21.9

400: Joey Villasenor, Sr., Lindhurst, 51.28

800: Joey Villasenor, Sr. Lindhurst, 1 minute, 54.53 seconds

1,600: T.J. Wy, Sr., River Valley, 4:18.19

3,200: T.J. Wy, Sr., River Valley, 9:51.92

110 high hurdles: Jacob MacFarlane, Sr., Gridley, 16.08

300 intermediate hurdles: Gurpreet Kahlon, Sr., Yuba City, 42.69

Shot put: Bob Ithurburn, Sr., Yuba City, 53 feet

Discus: Bob Ithurburn, Sr., Yuba City, 146-0

High jump: Michael Barber, Sr. Pierce, 5 feet, 11 inches

Pole vault: Tim Hugi, Jr., Wheatland and Dane Turner, Jr. Sutter, 13-6

Long Jump: Michael Canalin, Jr., Wheatland, 21-7

Triple Jump: Michael Barber Sr., Pierce, 43-9.5

GIRLS

100 meters: Sandeep Bajwa, Sr., Yuba City, 12.7 seconds

200: Sandeep Bajwa, Sr., Yuba City, 25.9

400: Jessica Carpenter, Fr., Wheatland, 58.31

800: Jessica Carpenter, Fr., Wheatland, 2 minutes, 25.3 seconds

1,600: Jessica Carpenter, Fr., Wheatland, 5:34.03

3,200: Amelia Morales, Jr. Gridley, 13:38.49

100 hurdles: Sarah Nichols, Sr., Gridley, 16.01

300 low hurdles: Sarah Nichols. Sr., Gridley, 46.33

Shot put: Wonwyne Hale, Fr., Yuba City, 31 feet, 10 inches

Discus: Ariel Caporale, Soph., Lindhurst, 109-0

High jump: Tracie Chong, Jr., Marysville, Sarah Feddersen, Jr., Marysville and Angela Ohland, Sr., Sutter, 4-8

Pole vault: Tracie Chong, Jr., Marysville and Kayla Calvert, Soph., Wheatland, 7-0

Long Jump: Sarah Nichols, Sr., Gridley, 17-8.5