LODI, Calif. – The St. Francis track and field team ran away with the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 1 Girls Championship title on Friday night at Tokay High School. The Troubadours scored 117.50 points to win their first title since 2015 and eighth in school history, winning four events and advancing 19 individual athletes and both relays into next week's Masters at Davis High School.
"We got the points where we needed them and everyone stepped up," said Head Coach Rod Jett. "Reyna Johnson and Izzy Fauria were awesome and scored a bunch of points for us. It went as well as we could have hoped and we ended up on top. It was a good finish to this part of the season."
St. Francis opened the meet by winning the 4x100m relay behind the foursome of Reyna Johnson, Chanel Grimes, Serena Shimada and Isabell Grassel, starting a stretch of three consecutive wins for the team.
"I am so proud of the team," said senior anchor Grassel. "It is a difficult race because so many things can go wrong. Being a cohesive team is really important. You have to work together and have communication. It was really nice to win."
Junior Isabella Fauria took the 1600 meters in 5:02.09 to edge teammate freshman Cate Joaquin in third (5:02.39), junior Haley Silva in fifth (5:04.95) and freshman Tatiana Cornejo in sixth.
"The mile went really well and we had 45 minutes to rest before the 800," said Fauria. "It was pretty difficult but we did well. In the 1600 and 800 we had four girls in each race and it was great having them do well at sections and moving on to Masters."
Johnson returned in the 100m hurdles, winning in 14.33 to break her own school in the event for the fifth time this season and then clocked 12.55 in the 100m to place third. She managed to record six jumps in the long jump simultaneously in between races to place second with a personal-best jump of 18-8.
Fauria won her second event of the night in the 800m in 2:16.19 with Silva placing fifth (2:18.61) and senior Sophie DeBenedetti crossing sixth in 2:19.90.
"Johnson and Fauria laid it on the line for the team competing in their individual events that they were focused on but they wanted to help the team win," said Jett.
Johnson helped the team to 34 points in her four events with two wins, a second- and third-place finish, while Fauria contributed to 25 points with her two wins and relay performance.
"I am ecstatic not tired," said Johnson. "It was a good day."
Senior Serena Shimada placed fifth in the 300m hurdles in 46.46 to advance in her third event after her fourth-place finish in the 100m hurdles and her relay leg in the 4x100m.
"It is so exciting," said Shimada. "We have been working so hard for this over the last five months. We really came together as a team. Most people do not see track as a team sport but we have become really close and become best friends. It makes it more special."
Grimes advanced in the 200 meters to earn another race at Masters in her senior year.
The Troubadours scored big points in the 3200 meters as Joaquin placed second in 10:59.52 with Cornejo finishing fifth with both advancing in their second events. Silva was also a double individual qualifier and a relay.
Fauria anchored the 4x400m relay to a fourth place finish with freshmen Alexys Jones and Peyton Carson and Silva to complete the night.
SF started the day with a fifth-place finish in the high jump by Jayme Hendrickson as she cleared a personal-best 5-2 to advance to the Masters. Senior Sarah Healey competed in second event of the week, finishing 15th with a throw of 28-0. Freshman Kenna de Lemos had a personal-best in the long jump with a leap of 16.1.5 to extend her season another week. Grassel finished 11th overall (16-6) but will return next week in the 4x100m relay.
Sac-Joaquin Section D1 Finals
Team Results (Top 10)
1. St. Francis 117.50, 2. Davis 68.50; 3. Cosumnes Oaks 59; 4. Sheldon 57; 5. Oak Ridge 54; 6. Whitney 47; 7. Lodi 39.50; 8. Merrill West 30; 9. Lincoln-S 26.50; 10. Granite Bay 25.
Individual Results
4x100m Relay – 1. St. Francis (Johnson, Grimes, Shimada, Grassel), 48.55; 1600m – 1. Isabella Fauria 5:02.09; 3. Cate Joaquin 5:02.39; 5. Haley Silva, 5:04.95; 6. Tatiana Cornejo, 5:08.25; 10. Hanna Hekkanen, 5:24.22; 100m Hurdles – 1. Reyna Johnson, 14.33; 4. Serena Shimada 15.05; 6. Isabella Palchak, 15.42; 100m – 3. Reyna Johnson, 12.55; 800m – 1. Isabella Fauria, 2:16.19; 5. Haley Silva, 2:18.61; 6. Sophie DeBenedetti, 2:19.90; 300m Hurdles – 5. Serena Shimada, 46.46; 200m – 8. Chanel Grimes, 26.75; 3200m – 2. Cate Joaquin, 10:59.52; 4. Tatiana Cornejo, 11:11.14; 15. Hanna Hekkanen, 11:53.49; 4x400m Relay – 4. St. Francis (Jones, Carson, Silva, Fauria) 4:05.51. High Jump – 5. Jayme Hendrickson, 5-2; 11. Isabella Palchak, 5-2; Shot Put – 15. Sarah Healey, 28-0; Long Jump – 2. Reyna Johnson, 18-8; 6. Kenna de Lemos, 16-1.5; 11. Isabelle Grassel, 16-6.
