SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Freshman Kenna de Lemos won the Freshman 100 meters in 12.98 to lead the Track and Field team to an impressive day at the Title IX Invitational at American River College on Saturday.
"It feels really amazing because I have never broken 13 seconds before," said de Lemos. "It is definitely an accomplishment."
de Lemos also anchored a fourth-place finish in the 4x100-m relay varsity race with a time of 52.47 and placed second in the freshman pole vault with a clearance of 6-6. Her time in the 100m final was the third-fastest by a freshman in school history and broke into the all-time top-20.
"I really love it (track and field)," said de Lemos. "I have done it in middle school. It was always fun each year. Pole vault is something new and I never thought I could do it."
The Troubadours were represented by a host of student-athletes from the Class of 2022. Freshman Grace Heisinger won the 300m hurdles freshman race in 52.39 and was third in the freshman 100m hurdles in 19.47.
"It feels awesome," said Heisinger. "It felt better than last race. I tried to turn it on and go my fastest in the end. It has been really fun transitioning from soccer."
Freshman Simone Sagay was fourth in the freshman 100m final (13.77) and Lauren Baleria was sixth (13.91).
Sophomore Reyna Johnson won two events on the day, taking the varsity 100m hurdles in 15.08 with teammate senior Serena Shimada in second in 16.02.
"Reyna is a star already and never ceases to amaze me with what she does," said Head Coach Rod Jett. "She is adding the long jump to her repertoire this year, going over 17 feet in her second meet jumping. She is going to do big things."
Johnson won the long jump with a best leap of 17-2 in only her second career appearance in the event. Senior Kat Alexander jumped 13-10 to finish eighth.
"I need it get to the high 14s," said Johnson. "But it is still my first few races so I am going to strive to do better. Today was my first time doing the long jump in a while so it felt good."
The 800m Sprint Medley Relay of Johnson, Isabelle Grassel, Shimada and senior Chanel Grimes won in 1:55.63. Grimes also made the 100m final, finishing sixth in 12.95 with Grassel (11th, 13.15), Shimada (12th, 13.20) and Gabi McGahan (19th, 13.63) among the top 20 finishes in the prelims.
St. Francis also had a strong contingent in the pole vault led by sophomore Molly Chambers in the second at 8-6 and sophomore Madison Gravelle and juniors Katya Utter and Sasha Utter all clearing 8-0 for third. Freshmen Lauren Pauline and Allyson Curana both cleared 6-6 also in the event.
Sophomore Rose Goyette had almost a 7-foot personal-best in the discus with a throw of 73-7 to finish seventh and was eighth in the F/S shot put with a best of 23-5.
"It was an excellent day for the freshman," said Jett. "It was a really good day for them. We are starting to shape up the way we want to and we are hoping to get some better weather for some specific speed training."
St. Francis is next in action next weekend with a split squad at the Husky Invitational and Dublin Distance Fiesta events.
