Rivals Beat Girls’ Track

Daniela Moroz, Staff Writer

 

The defending league champion girls’ varsity track & field squad suffered 2 losses on Wednesday, March 30.  Both Acalanes and Miramonte bettered the Cougars in the team scoring at the 3-way meet.  Nevertheless, according to team captain Hana Sun, there were performances to celebrate, including Sarah Cella’s 1600 meter runner-up finish in 5:12.22, a new personal best.  Also improving at that distance were Hannah Ruane and Isabella Chao.

“Hannah Ruane and Sarah Cella both got big PRs. Bella Chao went under 5:20 for the first time in the mile, which was a 10 second drop for her, which was really good and exciting to watch. Everyone looked really good,” said Sun.

For senior Emma Ishida, it was the first meet back after a stress fracture in her foot which she suffered during the fall. Also competed in the 1600m meter event. “It felt really good. I felt great not only because the race was good but because everyone else was so happy that I was back. That rubbed off on me and made me happy,” said Ishida.

According to Sun, her team knew it was facing a tough challenge against both the Dons and the Matadors. “I was pretty nervous going in because I knew Miramonte had a really good team,” she said.

On the boys’ side, the Cougars managed to out score Acalanes and Miramonte to stay undefeated in DFAL competition.

Chris Fleming earned 1st place in the long jump and the varsity boys’ 1600 relay team edged ahead for the victory. Jonathan Semenza finished 2nd in the 1600 meters with a new personal best of 4:32.70 while Jonathan Hughes won the 400 and 200 meter events.

Ishida said that Semenza’s 1600 meter was a big highlight. “He was leading for most of it and in the last hundred he got passed. But he looked really strong out there and made such an inspiring effort. I was glad I was able to witness that,” she said.