The members of Central Valley’s varsity track and field program are looking forward to the new season in the Central California Conference.

The Hawks previously competed in the Western Athletic Conference but were moved to the CCC as part of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s realignment plan.

“The team is motivated,” coach Veronica Moreno said. 

Chase Bogart (Sr.), Christian Balderas (Fr.), Enrique Martinez (Jr.) and Benjamin Barajas (So.) will lead Central Valley’s varsity boys team, which tied for third in the conference’s dual-meet standings (2-3) a season ago.

Bogart finished first in the 800, second in the 1,600 and fifth in the 3,200 at the 2018 WAC finals. He brought home a fourth-place medal while competing in the 800 at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-IV Championships.

Balderas finished first in the 3,200 and fourth in the 1,600 at the conference championships. He took six in both events at Divisionals. Balderas set personal records during both races.

Martinez finished third in the 3,200 at the league finals and ninth at Divisionals.

Barajas finished fourth in the discus and 12th in the shot put in league. He set a personal record en route to taking eighth overall in the discus at Divisionals.

Anusha Kumar (Jr.), Esther Esceverri (Sr.) and Kim Hernandez (Jr.), will lead Central Valley’s girls team, which placed last in the WAC dual-meet standings (0-5) in 2018.

Kumar finished sixth in the high jump and ninth in the 100 at the WAC Championships.

Hernandez finished sixth in the discus, 12th in the triple jump and 13th in the long jump.

Esceverri finished seventh in the 400.

“For both the girls and boys teams, the expectations are to take every meet or competition as an opportunity to improve and be a better athlete,” Moreno said.

The CCC features a total of seven teams: Central Valley, Patterson, Atwater, Buhach Colony, Golden Valley, Merced and El Capitan.

“Adjusting to the new meet format of cluster meets is a challenge, but also pushes athletes to train more efficiently to be able to compete at their best,” Moreno said “They have to be prepared mentally and physically.”