Allison Foster is an explosive leaper in volleyball and basketball. The Christopher High outside hitter and forward would be one of the most accomplished athletes in the school even if she limited herself to two sports.
But that’s not how the sophomore with a blooming track and field career is wired.
“I love challenges,” Foster said. “I have a challenge for every event.”
Those events would be the 300- and 100-meter hurdles, the long jump and the triple jump. And Foster figures to be in the hunt for Central Coast Section and perhaps even California Interscholastic Federation state titles this year and beyond.
“It’s rough trying to be the best in four different technical events,” Cougars coach Jeff Myers said. “But she’s doing a great job. She’s basically competing as a senior in a sophomore’s body right now.”
Foster’s depth of talent was on display Saturday, when the 5-foot-8 master of all trades placed in each of her four events during the Garlic Classic hosted by Christopher at Gilroy High.
Foster won the 300 hurdles in 47.63 seconds, and took second in the 100 hurdles in 16.08, second in the long jump at 15 feet, 9 1/2 inches and third in the triple jump at 33-8.
And that might only be a sampling of her potential.
“The thing with Alli is, as unique and special an athlete as she is, she can do a lot of things,” Myers said. “She could probably high jump very well, too, sprint very well, she could be on relay teams. She’s booked right now.
“She could probably do discus if she wanted to.”
Foster’s marquee event is the 300 hurdles. She finished sixth in the event at last year’s CCS meet in 47.74 seconds, and was the only freshman to place. A state berth is a logical goal this season.
“It’s my goal to make it to state this year for 300 hurdles,” Foster said. “That’s what I want to focus on, but the three other events, I have to keep the same motivation.”
Foster said she loved track and field through middle school, but she originally “hated” hurdles.
With the help of coaching, hate eventually turned to passion toward what would become her signature event.
“It’s hard to believe I’m saying it, but I do love my 300 hurdles now,” Foster said.
Foster said she hasn’t reached her potential yet – a level of promise she glimpsed last year.
“It hit me freshman year when I started beating seniors. It shocked me, and it shocked them,” she said. “Them coming up to me just saying, ‘You’re only a (freshman)? That’s crazy.’”
Myers said Foster is able to manage the stress of competing in four events during a compressed amount of time.
“Watching her grow from freshman to sophomore year, (is) the mental part of it,” Myers said. “She’s dealing with the pressure that comes along with it. ‘I’ve done this race, I need to cool down and refocus for the next race.’ Now, I don’t have to remind her of little things – she gets it. We’re really on the same page.
“It’s almost like she has a coaching mentality.”
Foster said volleyball and basketball help her become a better athlete, but track and field is her favorite.
“I hopefully plan for the future to go to a four-year university for track and field,” she said.
Foster said she suffered a shin-splints injury during the K-Bell Invitational on March 9 at Los Gatos High, but that hasn’t slowed her.
“Once that heals, I’m sure to be better, and hopefully I’ll be working and get better,” Foster said. “That’s all you can ask for.
“No pain, no gain. That’s how I think of it.”
NOTES
Foster has a prime local rival for the 100 hurdles in Gilroy High senior Samantha Una Dia, who took third in the event at the Garlic Classic in 16.34. Una Dia was sixth in the 100 hurdles at CCS last year in 15.75. … Christopher’s girls finished third at the Garlic Classic with 51 points, as San Benito won with 74 and Piedmont Hills took second with 70. The Cougars’ girls 400 relay team comprised of Carlene McPolin, Cydney Caradonna, Vanessa Koontz and Olivia Baxter won in 51.88. Christopher freshman Haley Romero took third in the long jump with a mark of 15-6 3/4. … For Christopher’s boys, junior Bryan Pipkin was second in the Garlic Classic varsity pole vault at 12-6. Cougars sophomore Jordan Rodriquez won the frosh/soph 200 in 23.96, and was second in the frosh/soph 100 in 11.79. … For Gilroy’s boys, senior Scott Vogel took third in the discus with a mark of 128-4. … Visit prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2013/chrisres.htm for full results. … The 43rd Avis Kelley Track and Field Invitational is set for Saturday at Gilroy High.
