M-A’s track and field team raced in the PAL championships among 17 schools in San Mateo on Saturday morning. Top finishers at this race advance to next week’s CCS Trials in Gilroy.
On the girl’s end, senior Sara Nordlund led the team, winning the league championship in the 100M and 300M hurdles. Continuing the winning streak, freshman Caroline Pflaum took first place in the 1600 meter and third in 3200 meter races.
The Bears went on to place in numerous other events, with junior Katie Cueva taking third in pole vault, and junior Paige McGaraghan taking sixth in the 3200M. Additionally, both freshman Diya Mahadevan and senior Claire Gong took fourth in their respective races, the 400M and the 800M.
“I’m really proud of the team’s performance,” Gong said. “Everyone really put their all, so many people have worked so hard this season and I think it showed.”
All of these athletes will advance to the CCS trials, along with the 4x100M relay team consisting of Nordlund, Mahadevan, juniors Gabi Jansen-Olliges and Skylar Hodges. Additionally, the 4x400M relay team consisting of junior Louisa Pflaum, Nordlund, Mahdevan, and Gong will also be moving on to CCS. Overall, the girls finished in fourth place among the 17 schools competing.
For the boys, the Bears were led by senior Alex Petry, who won second in the 200M and third in the 400M. Following him were juniors Aiden Sharp, who took second in the 1600M, fourth in the 3200M, and Cason Mitchell, who finished second in the 3200M. Sophomore Evan Chopra and senior Thomas Bernadicou also contributed to the team, with Chopra winning the 800M, and Bernadicou taking third in the 1600M.
“I feel great about the team’s performance,” senior John Cutler said. “We’ve had roughly the most CCS qualifiers in the past 25 years.”
The boy’s relay teams continued to sweep, with the 4x400M team consisting of senior Josh Olsen, Petry, Copra, and Cutler winning first, and the 4x100M team consisting of senior Alexander Leonardo, junior JT Roeder, Petry, and Olsen taking fifth.
“I’m most proud of the effort reflected across the team, the support and the morale throughout the meet, and I’m also proud of our 4x400M win,” Cutler said.
Along with all the athletes placing above, others advancing to CCS finals include sophomore Calvin Blanford, junior Brady Phan in the 3200M, Roeder in the 100M, and Cutler in the 800M The boys team placed second overall at the meet.
“I wish I raced a little more aggressively near the very end of my race, but I’m happy I still qualified,” Cutler said. “I’m looking forward to racing my best and hopefully qualifying for finals. I hope that our team does well in CCS and I’d love to see some state qualifiers.”
“I’m looking forward to racing and also getting to watch amazing athletes run as well during trials,” Gong said. “I’m not necessarily hoping for any outcomes, maybe a personal record, but I think I’ve had a good season and I’ve gotten to run with some of my favorite people, so I’m just happy for that.”
The Bears will now compete in Gilroy for consecutive Saturdays for the CCS Trials and CCS Finals on May 17th and May 24th, respectively.
