The Christopher High varsity girls track and field squad checked off another box in its run toward a Monterey Bay League championship.
By mid-meet Thursday, the Cougars and visiting Monterey High weren’t just racing against each other, but also some swiftly approaching rain clouds. The girls outlasted both in a 111-23 victory over the Toreadores that keeps the Cougars at the top of the Monterey Bay League with a flawless 4-0 record.
“They are really on the right path to a championship,” CHS head coach Jeff Myers said. “We have a lot of talent and a lot of depth across the board.”
The varsity girls showcased that depth Thursday, placing first in 13 of the 16 events. The Cougars swept (finishing first through third) in the 400-meter dash, the 100 dash, 300 hurdles, high jump and pole vault.
Carly McPolin (100) and Olivia Baxter (200) were among the Cougars’ first-place finishers.
“We have a nice one-two punch with them,” Myers said.
Ally Foster (high jump, triple jump), Haylee Peterson (110 hurdles), Monique Esparza (800), Claudia Ferreira (300 hurdles), Rachel Allen (3200), Maddie Peterson (discus, shot put), Emily Doughty (high jump) and Kaelin Sylva (pole vault) also took the top spot in their respective events.
On the boys’ side, senior Marcus Harrell entered the dual meet with the Central Coast Section’s sixth-best long jump mark. His 22-feet, 7 inch jump Thursday likely landed him in the top-three Myers said.
“That was a big jump – big jump,” Myers said to emphasize the point.
Harrell’s school-record jump as well as a showdown in the 100-meter hurdles between returning CCS placer Martin Ettema and Monterey’s Stephen Dorsey, the section’s leading high jumper and an athlete Myers predicts could qualify for June’s state meet in four events, plus a school-record run in the 400 by Wyatt Rocheleau (52.29 seconds) highlighted the varsity boys day – which ended in a loss, 91-30.
Ettema, in just his four race of the season after missing time recovering from an offseason ankle injury, looked good off the blocks and held a lead over Dorsey four hurdles into the race. Dorsey, though, separated himself to the finish line.
“That was a good race for both of them,” Myers said.
The Cougars have a tri-meet with Seaside and Monte Vista Christian on April 26 at GHS remaining on the regular season schedule.
