DAVIS, Calif. – The St. Francis track and field team won the first ever Sac-Joaquin Section Masters team title behind three individual wins, a second-place relay and three additional top-five performances Saturday in rainy conditions at Davis Senior High School.
"The Masters team championship reflects how good the team is as a whole not just individual sprints or distance doing well," said Head Coach Rod Jett. "It is a contribution from all of them."
The Troubadours qualified the 4x100-meter relay with a second-place finish in 48.79 with sophomore Reyna Johnson, senior Chanel Grimes, freshman Kenna de Lemos and senior Isabelle Grassel. The team entered the finals seeded eighth but finished behind only Sheldon on Saturday as Kenna de Lemos filled in for senior Serena Shimada, who suffered an injury Friday.
Johnson led off before handing off to Grimes as the duo took St. Francis out front from lane eight.
"It feel amazing," said Grimes. "It is great to be able go out like this as a senior."
Without the benefit of seeing their competition, the Troubies kept the pressure on the third leg with freshman De Lemos before handing off the Grassel for the anchor.
"It is really exciting and kinda surreal because it is something I have been working towards since my sophomore year," said Grassel. "Our hand off felt really good and Kenna did really good. We were in lane eight and a lot of people counted us out. It was a close race but we got it."
Johnson returned to win the 100-meter hurdles, breaking her own school record for the sixth time this season with an improvement to 14.26 to reach the state championships.
"I did not expect to PR in these conditions," said Johnson.
Junior Isabella Fauria won the 1600 meters in 5:02.16 and then took the 800 meters in 2:14.73 to claim two individual Masters titles. She was joined by Haley Silva (5th, 2:18.44) and Sophie DeBenedetti (11th, 2:23.99) as SF showed their distance depth. Fauria will concentrate on the 800 meters next week in Fresno.
"I feel really good considering all the rain and wind," said Fauria after her second win in the 800 meters.
The Troubadours had two in the 3200 meter final with freshmen Cate Joaquin and Tatiana Cornejo with the talented duo finishing fifth and 12th overall in the their first Masters final.
Johnson also earned a medal in the long jump, placing fourth with a best jump of 17-5.5, juggling the event between running the finals in the relay and her hurdle event.
"I am not really surprised with what she does anymore," said Jett. "I see how talented she is in practice every day. I would not be surprised if the school record in the 100m hurdles was a little lower again next week. We will keep our fingers crossed."
Junior Meghan Ladd, who cleared a personal-best 10-6 last week in the pole vault, did not clear a height in her final.
St. Francis tallied 52 points to win the first ever Sac-Joaquin Section Masters team title after claiming the Division I title last week and the Delta League title.
Competition at the CIF State championships begins on Friday at Veteran's Memorial Stadium at Buchanan High School. The 4x100m relay trials will start at 5 p.m. Johnson will run in the 100m hurdle trials at 6 p.m. with the 800m scheduled for 8:10 p.m.
Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Finals
Davis Senior High School
Team Standings (Top 5)
1. St. Francis 52; 2. Davis 29.50; 3. Christian Brothers 28; 4. Vista del Lago 27; 5. Oak Ridge 26.
4x100m Relay – 2. St. Francis (Johnson, Grimes, de Lemos, Grassel), 48.79; 1600m – 1. Isabella Fauria, 5:02.16; 100m Hurdles – 1. Reyna Johnson, 14.26; 800m – 1. Isabella Fauria, 2:14.73; 5. Haley Silva, 2:18.44; 11. Sophie DeBenedetti, 2:23.99; 3200m – 5. Cate Joaquin, 11:01.58; 12. Tatiana Cornejo, 11:22.63; Long Jump – 4. Reyna Johnson, 17-5.5; 20. Kenna de Lemos, 15-5.75; Pole Vault – Meghan Ladd NH.
