DAVIS, Calif. – The St. Francis track and field team advanced five individuals and the 4x100m relay into the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Finals to be held Saturday afternoon at Davis Senior High School.
"We are right in it," said Head Coach Rod Jett. "Sheldon ran the best time in the 4x100 but as far as the rest of the pack we are right there. If we out everything together tomorrow, we can make state."
The Troubadours qualified three in the 800 meters led by top qualifiers Isabella Fauria and Haley Silva. Fauria won the fourth heat with the top time (2:16.36) with Silva on her hip for a personal-best 2:16.47.
"With some team tactics we will try to get as many in there as possible," said Jett. "Izzy has been leading the section all year and Sophie and Haley both stepped up."
Senior Sophie DeBenedetti qualified on time, finishing third in the first heat in a personal-best 2:17.06.
"It was very exciting," said DeBenedetti. "To feel like myself again, it feels good to be able to race well again."
The Troubadours will compete for a top-three finish on Saturday for a berth in the CIF State Championships May 24-25 in Fresno at Buchanan High School.
Sophomore Reyna Johnson had the second best time in the 100m hurdles, winning her heat in 14.57 to advance second overall. Senior Serena Shimada qualified eighth overall, placing third in her heat and advancing with the eighth overall time (15.52).
The 4x100m relay (Johnson, Chanel Grimes, Serena Shimada, Isabelle Grassel) led off the running events, qualifying eighth overall by finishing third in the heat with the fourth-best non-winning time They posted a time of 49.10x.
Other competitors for St. Francis included Chanel Grimes in the 200m (24th, 27.37). Junior Isabella Palchak placed eighth with a best clearance of 5-2 and was 13th overall in the 100m hurdles (16.42). Junior Jayme Hendrickson did not record a height in her first Master's appearance. Johnson dropped the 100 meters from her schedule and Shimada scratched the 300m hurdles.
On Saturday, the pole vault has been moved up to 10 a.m. with junior Meghan Ladd competing for the Troubadours. St. Francis will have freshmen Cate Joaquin and Tatiana Cornejo and juniors Fauria and Silva in the 3200, while Cornejo and Joaquin will run in the 1600. Final race entries will be determined on Saturday with Johnson jumping in the long jump with a best of 18-8 last week.
St. Francis is tied for 16th overall in the team standings with Palchak's eighth place finish with participants in seven events on Saturday. The section will be awarding a team banner for the first time this season.
Field events start at 1 p.m. followed by the running events at 1:50 p.m.
Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Trials
Davis Senior High School
4x100m Relay – 8. St. Francis (Johnson, Grimes, Shimada, Grassel), 49.10; 100m Hurdles – 2. Reyna Johnson, 14.57; 8. Serena Shimada, 15.52; 13. Isabella Palchak, 16.42; 800m – 2. Isabella Fauria, 2:16.36; 6. Haley Silva, 2:16.47; 9. Sophie DeBenedetti, 2:17.06; 200m – 24. Chanel Grimes, 27.37; 4x400m Relay – 20. St. Francis (Sophie DeBenedetti, Alexys Jones, Peyton Carson, Grace Heisinger), 4:11.21; High Jump – 8. Isabella Palchak, 5-2; Jayme Hendrickson NH.