FRESNO, Calif. – Sophomore Reyna Johnson and junior Isabella Fauria both advanced to the finals in their respective events Friday at the CIF State Track and Field Championships.
Johnson finished fourth in her heat in 14.35, her second-best time on the season behind only her season-best 14.24 set last Saturday in winning the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters and DI titles. Overall, she has reset the school mark in the event six times this season. She qualified eighth overall and will run at 6:45 p.m. for the state championship.
"She has exceeded all my expectations this season," said Head Coach Rod Jett. "I was happy she made it to the state meet so making finals is just a bonus."
Fauria, who won two events at the Masters meet last week, advanced in the 800 meters with a personal-best 2:11.70, finishing second in her heat and with the second-best time behind her heat winner Rayna Stanziano (2:11.01) of Concord.
"The race was fast" said Fauria after her first race. "I knew I had to run my PR to try to get in the finals. I ran my PR. It was difficult but at least I got to the finals."
Fauria will run in the final on Saturday at 8:05 p.m.
"I was not really sure how anyone was going to go on the first lap," said Fauria. "64 seconds was fine. It is what I run. My focus biggest focus to on my finish at the end. It feels really good. It is my first (track) state championship. To make it to finals and come here feels amazing."
The 4x100-meter relay opened the meet with a fifth-place in the second heat in 48.31 with a season-best 48.31.
Johnson led off the race before handing off to senior Chanel Grimes. She passed to freshman Kenna de Lemos before the final anchor leg by Isabelle Grassel. Senior Sam
"I was trying not to have the mindset that today was not going to be our last day," said Grimes. "We did what we could. Reyna came out fast and we had good handoffs. We had a PR so that is all we could really ask for (at the state championships).
The team finished second at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters last week to earn a spot at the State Championships in 48.79 and posted 48.55 in winning the Section DI title the week before.
"It felt really great running down the stretch," said Grassel. "The energy out there is different than any other meet I have run at."
It was the final meet for both Grassel, who will attend Notre Dame, and Grimes, who will attend UC-Berkeley. They graduated with their classmates Thursday afternoon before traveling to Fresno.
"I know this is my last meet but it has not hit me yet," said Grimes. "To be able to PR with Kenna after having joined last minute (after Shimada's injury), you don't see that every .day. I am pretty proud of us as individuals and a team."
CIF State Championships - Buchanan High School
4x100m Relay – 16. St. Francis (Johnson, Grimes, DeLemos, Grassel), 48.31. 100m Hurdles - 4. Reyna Johnson, 14.35; 800m - 4. Isabella Fauria, 2:11.70.
