By Olivia Nouriani
Assoc. Opinion Editor
Track and Field competed in CIF Prelims on Saturday, May 16, advancing several athletes to CIF Finals and setting a school record in the hard-fought meet at Estancia High School.
The girls jump-started the squad, taking fourth in the 4×100 Meter Relay, led by captain senior Nina Acebo and junior Rebecca Liston. The Tigers continued to push themselves on the track, Acebo taking sixth in the 100 Hurdles at 15.59, followed closely by sophomore Kate Kutzer who seized eighth at 15.71. Kutzer came out to then take third in the 300 Hurdles, setting a school record at 44.97, marking her second SPHS record. Captain junior Alexis Mora followed her to take seventh at 46.33.
The boys followed suit to come out nearly as strong on the track. Senior Justin Fernandez took seventh to qualify for Finals in the 800 meters, coming in at 1:58.41. The boys then qualified in the 4×400 meter relay, taking sixth at 3:22.98. Field athletes from the men’s squad continued to qualify, with junior Esteban Suarez taking third in the Pole Vault at 13-03.00, and senior Ryan Ong coming in ninth in the Triple Jump.
The girls’ team continued to find success with field events, qualifying three athletes for CIF Finals in the Long Jump. Kutzer took third in the event at 18-05.5, followed by senior Jazmin Jackmon and Acebo, taking fourth and sixth.
The qualifiers will continue to train for finals with hope to advance to CIF Masters, the final meet before State. The Tigers have had incredibly strong athletes in recent years, some earning individual CIF championships. Significant talent has graduated, and the team is now young, but they seek to live up to the expectations set by past years.