The varsity boys’ track squad won the Diablo Foothill Athletic League (DFAL) Championship meet on May 10, after finishing 4th in the regular season standings. The girls’ team ended up 4th at the championships, 1 point back of Dublin.
The championship trial meet took place at Campo on May 8.
According to Coach Chuck Woolridge, the boys’ team was looking to win the meet given the return of junior distance runner Aidan Goltra after his transfer sit out period and the return of a healthy Ryan Hoffman, who leads the sprint squad. Captain Adam Hathaway agreed with Woolridge that the team goal was to win the meet. “We wanted to get redemption after losing to 3 teams in the regular season by winning the championship meet,” said Hathaway.
The boys’ victory was made possible by key performances in the hurdles, distance, and sprint events. Senior Brian Pfaff was runner-up in both the 110m and 300m hurdle races. “Our hurdlers took 3 of the top 6 places in both hurdle races,” said Woolridge.
“Aidan Goltra was a surprise winner in the 3200m race. Hathaway was 4th in the 3200m and also picked up vital points in the 1600m,” added Woolridge.
“We got some unexpected points in the distances, and Ryan Hoffman won the 400m and 200m,” said Hathaway.
Senior hurdler Andy Van Heuit believed a victory in the 4x400m really boosted the squad, as the team was able to beat Las Lomas and Alhambra, who they had lost to in the regular season. “We did it for our team,” Van Heuit said.
According to Woolridge, the girls’ team goal heading into finals was to place no lower than 3rd to retain their first place league standing. “In spite of a gritty performance by the distance squad, the girls’ team was unable to overcome the absence of Hadley Swanson,” said Woolridge. Swanson, who was a favorite for multiple jump and sprint events events, is out due to a lingering foot injury she sustained in Junior National competition last summer.
When the final scoring was announced, the Cougar varsity girls were disappointed to hear they had finished in 4th place. “We were counting on more from the hurdles and horizontal jumps, but we are in a tough league and we competed well,” added Woolridge.
The top 6 performers in each final event advanced to the Tri-Valley Championships, which will take place May 18th at Granada High School. From there, the top 7 from each event advance to the North Coast Section Meet of Champions (MOC) which will take place the following weekend.
Regarding Tri-Valley, Woolridge said the goal is not team oriented, but will focus on advancing individuals.
“We want to qualify as many people as possible to MOC and break 3:25 in the 4x400m relay,” said Van Heuit.
