The Ceres High boys and girls track and field teams competed at the Central California Conference championships at Cal State Stanislaus on Wednesday. The top six finishers in each event advanced to the sub-section trials.
"I don't remember this young of athletes qualifying," said Ceres coach Drew Brown. "They're just going to keep on getting better."
Approximately 12 Bulldogs, including two seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and four freshmen, qualified.
Varsity boys
Junior Ryan Leazer finished second in the 200 in 23.61 seconds and fifth in the 100 in 11.4 seconds.
Junior Chris Gregg finished third in the 110 hurdles in 16.51 seconds and fifth in the 300 hurdles in 43.43 seconds.
Junior Charlie Cunha finished third in the high jump at 6 feet, 2 inches and fifth in the long jump at 20 feet, 10 inches.
Freshman Ross Tate finished fourth in the high jump at 6 feet.
Sophomore Dingko Luangchai finished fifth in the high jump at 6 feet and in a three-way tie for seventh in the triple jump at 41 feet, 11/4 inches.
"To have three guys over six feet (in the high jump) is outstanding," Brown said.
The 4x100 relay team of Leazer, Cunha, Luangchai and Kevin Dupree (freshman) finished third in 44.85 seconds.
The 4x400 relay team of James Walcott, Gregg, Johnny Lopez and Jordan Gonzalez finished seventh in 3:49.
Varsity girls
Heather Jones missed the final three weeks of the regular season with a hip-flexor strain. The freshman returned just in time for the league championships. She finished third in the 100 hurdles in 17.18 seconds.
"She came back and did real well," Brown said. "She hasn't even practiced that much. She's been hurt."
Five other girls from the varsity team also advanced.
Jessica Mazza finished third in the high jump. The sophomore cleared a personal-best 4 feet, 8 inches.
Senior Megan Gunzenhauser finished fourth in the discus at 100 feet and sixth in the shot at 32 feet, 8 inches.
Sophomore Karrah Brown finished fifth in the 1,600 in a personal-best time of 5:37 and 3,200 in 12:31.
Senior Natalie Alvarez finished fifth in the 800 in 2:41.
Freshman Melanie Casey finished sixth in the triple jump at 30 feet, 71/2 inches.
JV winners
Coach Brown knew his 4x100 relay team would excel at the frosh-soph league championships.
"They've been running varsity all year," Brown said.
Kyleesha Williams (freshman), Vicki Morales (freshman), Dominika Bonner (sophomore) and Laura Morales (sophomore) finished first.
Jan Lu finished first in the long jump.
Williams finished third in the 200.
Bryant Hill finished second in the 110 hurdles for the boys in the boys division. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier
"I don't remember this young of athletes qualifying," said Ceres coach Drew Brown. "They're just going to keep on getting better."
Approximately 12 Bulldogs, including two seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and four freshmen, qualified.
Varsity boys
Junior Ryan Leazer finished second in the 200 in 23.61 seconds and fifth in the 100 in 11.4 seconds.
Junior Chris Gregg finished third in the 110 hurdles in 16.51 seconds and fifth in the 300 hurdles in 43.43 seconds.
Junior Charlie Cunha finished third in the high jump at 6 feet, 2 inches and fifth in the long jump at 20 feet, 10 inches.
Freshman Ross Tate finished fourth in the high jump at 6 feet.
Sophomore Dingko Luangchai finished fifth in the high jump at 6 feet and in a three-way tie for seventh in the triple jump at 41 feet, 11/4 inches.
"To have three guys over six feet (in the high jump) is outstanding," Brown said.
The 4x100 relay team of Leazer, Cunha, Luangchai and Kevin Dupree (freshman) finished third in 44.85 seconds.
The 4x400 relay team of James Walcott, Gregg, Johnny Lopez and Jordan Gonzalez finished seventh in 3:49.
Varsity girls
Heather Jones missed the final three weeks of the regular season with a hip-flexor strain. The freshman returned just in time for the league championships. She finished third in the 100 hurdles in 17.18 seconds.
"She came back and did real well," Brown said. "She hasn't even practiced that much. She's been hurt."
Five other girls from the varsity team also advanced.
Jessica Mazza finished third in the high jump. The sophomore cleared a personal-best 4 feet, 8 inches.
Senior Megan Gunzenhauser finished fourth in the discus at 100 feet and sixth in the shot at 32 feet, 8 inches.
Sophomore Karrah Brown finished fifth in the 1,600 in a personal-best time of 5:37 and 3,200 in 12:31.
Senior Natalie Alvarez finished fifth in the 800 in 2:41.
Freshman Melanie Casey finished sixth in the triple jump at 30 feet, 71/2 inches.
JV winners
Coach Brown knew his 4x100 relay team would excel at the frosh-soph league championships.
"They've been running varsity all year," Brown said.
Kyleesha Williams (freshman), Vicki Morales (freshman), Dominika Bonner (sophomore) and Laura Morales (sophomore) finished first.
Jan Lu finished first in the long jump.
Williams finished third in the 200.
Bryant Hill finished second in the 110 hurdles for the boys in the boys division. - By DALE BUTLER / Staff Reporter of The Ceres (Calif.) Courier