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Ceres athletes collect medals
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Ceres High competed at the Sierra Invitational at Modesto JC on Saturday. The varsity girls and boys track and field teams took 18th and 19th, respectively, in a field of 31.

"I thought they competed very well," said Ceres coach Drew Brown. "The quality of the athletes at the meet was above average."

The top six finishers in each event earned medals.

The girls team won five medals.

Megan Gunzenhauser finished fifth in the discus with a throw of 105 feet and ninth in the shot put (30-113/4).

Dominika Bonner, Kyleesha Williams, Natalie Alvarez and Karrah Brown placed sixth in the distance medley. The foursome completed the event in 14 minutes, 8 seconds.

Jessica Mazza almost medaled. The sophomore placed seventh in the long jump (14-2) and triple jump (29-93/4).

Melanie Vega placed eighth in the shot (31-4). Brandey Fillman placed 17th in the shot (27-113/4).

Heather Jones, Williams, Bonner and Crystal Perez placed eighth in the 4x100 relay (56.37 seconds).

Jones, Williams, Bonner and Perez placed 10th in the sprint medley (2:12.90).

Karrah Brown placed ninth in the 1,600 meters (5:51.33).

Nicole Ciccarelli placed 19th in the 100-meter hurdles (20.38).

"Most of the girls aren't in track shape yet," Brown said. "It was a practice meet."

The boys team won one medal.

Ross Tate placed fourth in the high jump. The freshman cleared 5-10.

"That was a great performance by Ross," Brown said. "He jumped 5-10 in the eighth grade."

James Gmachowski placed 10th in the discus (120-2).

Kevin Dupree, Charlie Cunha and Richard Randez placed 10th (19-01/4), 17th (18-8) and 47th (15-31/4) in the long jump, respectively.

Garrett Duddleston, Brandon Crawford, James Walcott and David Vega placed 14th in the distance medley (12:23).

Ceres' 4x100 relay team, Ryan Leazer, Brandon Crawford, Chris Gregg and Johnny Garcia, placed 15th (47.13).

Randez placed 18th in the 400 meters (1:01.51).

Nick Gardner placed 32nd in the 110-meter hurdles (20.41). Matt Purkis placed 33rd (20.75). Chris Lombrana placed 38th (21.75).

Jones, Ryan Leazer, Williams and Crawford placed seventh in the co-ed 4x200 relay (1:47.10). - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier